LOCAL : 3-Year-Old Dies, Sister Injured in Glendale Fire Set by Brother

A 3-year-old girl perished and her 18-month-old sister was pulled unconscious from her crib by police Monday night after their 5-year-old brother ignited a fire in their south Glendale residence while their mother was away on an errand, officials said today.

Charlotte Welsch was taken to Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, where she is being treated for smoke inhalation and second-degree burns to her leg. Hospital spokeswoman Cheryl Trinidad said she was in stable condition.

Three Glendale police officers who arrived before firefighters at the apartment in the 600 block of E. Garfield Avenue were treated for smoke inhalation after breaking through a window to enter the burning apartment.

Charlotte was pulled out of her crib and revived by police officers at the scene. But rescuers were unable to save her sister, Tracy, Glendale Police spokesman Dean Durand said.

The children’s older brother, James, started the fire with a butane lighter by setting ablaze a sofa in the living room while his sisters slept in the rear of the structure, said Fire Marshal Chris Gray.