7 Children, in New House 1 Day, Injured in Fire

Seven children were injured in a house fire Sunday, four of them critically, one day after a family moved into the ranch-style home, fire officials said.

Five of the victims, ages 2 to 16, were brothers and sisters in the Rahmany family, which moved into the house in the Bay Area community Saturday night, and the other two were cousins, officials said.

In addition to the four who were critically injured, the three other youngsters were reported in stable condition at area hospitals after they were pulled from the home by firefighters and neighbors.

Authorities said the parents were not at home when the fire broke out, having left their teen-age daughter in charge while they took some people to the airport. When the adults returned, crews from the Contra Costa Consolidated Fire District were battling the blaze.

The cause of the fire, which began in a master bedroom and gutted the $85,000 house, was under investigation, spokeswoman Mary Cornelison said.

Jerry Smith, 33, who lives next door, said he noticed smoke coming from the house shortly after 9 a.m., reported the fire and ran to the burning house. “I banged on the door and could hear people screaming,” he said.

Smith and another neighbor, Jim Cartmell, who was later treated for smoke inhalation, helped firefighters in the rescue effort.

Listed in “very critical” condition from smoke inhalation were Shams Rahmany, a 3-year-old boy, and his sister Habiba, 17, according to Sandra Ryan, spokeswoman for John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.

Also listed as critical were 9-year-old Samea Rahmany and her cousin, Iesha Rahimi, 6, who were treated first at Mt. Diablo Hospital in Concord, then taken to Children’s Hospital in Oakland, said Mt. Diablo spokeswoman Tracie Stubblefield.

The three other children were being treated for smoke inhalation.