Pomona Fire Kills Mother, 2 Sons

A woman and two of her children died this morning when a fire swept through their Pomona home, which had barred windows and doors that hampered rescue attempts, firefighters said. Two other youngsters in the home were critically injured, and two firefighters suffered minor injuries. A sixth resident escaped serious injury. The dead were identified as Cheryl Williams, 33, and her sons Charles, 17, and Jeffrey, 3.

Firefighters were called to the house at 5:22 a.m. and found smoke billowing out the windows. Fire officials said the fire appeared to have been smoldering for several hours. The Fellows Street home had no smoke detectors.