Three Children Killed as Blaze Rips Through Mountain Cabin

Three children were killed Tuesday in a post-midnight fire that swept through their tiny, wood-frame mountain home east of Big Bear Lake, authorities said.

Six children and their father were asleep in the 500-square-foot cabin when flames, perhaps from candles, set the house on fire. The victims’ father managed to pull his other three children out of the house before flames charred all but the back of the cabin, said Detective Greg Garland of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

Dead at the scene were sisters Sky Blue, 6, and Saphire Blue, 5, and their 2-year-old brother, Bon Blue, the San Bernardino County coroner’s office reported.

Roland Blue, 31, and his 16-month-old daughter, Midnight, suffered multiple burns and were listed in serious but stable condition at San Bernardino County Medical Center. Midnight suffered burns over 50% of her body. Her two uninjured siblings were not identified.

Crystal Blue, the children’s mother, was staying nearby at a friend’s house at the time of the fire, officials said.

The blaze erupted at 1:20 a.m. at the Blues’ rented cabin in the 800 block of East Mountain View Drive in Big Bear City. About 25 firefighters contained the flames within 10 minutes, said Chief Steven Hartenstine of the Big Bear City Fire Department.

Hartenstine said the fire started in the living room, on a makeshift table beneath a window. He said it appeared to have been accidental and might have been caused by burning candles.

Authorities said investigators were examining the crowded conditions in the rustic cabin. Sky Blue was the only victim found in bed by firefighters. Another child was found sleeping on a bedroom floor, and the third appeared to have been asleep on bedding laid down in a closet, Deputy Coroner Gabriel Morales said.