2 Die in Fire; Mother Burned in Rescue Effort

A teen-ager and her older brother died Monday when a gas wall heater exploded at their Santa Ana duplex, authorities said.

Their mother was badly burned as she tried to save her children from the 12:39 a.m. blaze, authorities said.

Christine Woodfin, 16, and her brother, Jay, 29, died in the fire. Their mother, Marjorie Woodfin, 55, was burned over half her body and was reported in serious condition at the University of California, Irvine, Medical Center. Two other sons, David, 19, and Joseph, 25, escaped the fire uninjured.

Jim Hodges, the owner of the building, said a fireball tore through the duplex when the gas wall heater in the living room exploded. Marjorie Woodfin, David and Joseph escaped but were prevented by the intense heat from reaching the two others.

‘She’s Screaming’

Marjorie Woodfin had already suffered second- and third-degree burns when she tried repeatedly to re-enter the home for her children, said neighbors, who helped pull the woman from the flames and had to restrain her from going back in.

“She’s screaming to save her daughter, and we can hear her daughter inside screaming for help,” said Maria Theresa Longa, 36, who lives nearby. “It was just right through the window, such a little distance. It was just a few minutes, but it seemed like hours. Then there was just no more screaming.”

Santa Ana Deputy Fire Chief Jim Montgomery said the fire was started by natural gas, and Hodges said authorities removed the damaged wall heater.