Family Describes Escape From Hotel Fire : Tragedy: Donations are sought to help victims of fatal blaze. ‘They were left with nothing,’ an official says.

With burns showing on her hands and wrists, Jessica Moreno-Fuentes, 14, recalled Friday how she frantically tried to escape the Grand Avenue residential hotel fire Downtown that killed three people Monday.

Nearby, her father cried softly as his daughter described the horrific scene to reporters gathered outside Sherman Oaks Hospital and Health Center.

It was emotionally painful for the girl to talk about what happened to her. But hospital officials said they hoped that by having the family tell the public of its ordeal, a fund for them and other victims of the fire could get off to a good start.

“I wish I didn’t have to put the family through this,” said Johna Rogovin, a hospital spokeswoman, “but the need is so great.

“They were left with nothing,” she said.

Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Steve Ruda also was on hand.

“We hope that some of the good kindness that has been directed to firefighters,” Ruda said, speaking about the outpouring of praise for his department and others in the wake of recent wildfires, “could now be redirected to this family.”

Ruda said that the investigation into the hotel fire, which officials believe is arson, is continuing. One man has been arrested for allegedly threatening to set fire to the structure a few hours before the blaze began, but he has not been charged. In addition to the three killed, 19 people were injured, 12 critically.

The Moreno-Fuentes family was hit particularly hard. In the hospital’s burn unit, Jessica’s brother, Juan, 9, remains in critical condition with burn and smoke inhalation injuries that his doctor termed life-threatening.

Another brother, Jose, 6, was in good condition and was scheduled to have the first of a long series of skin-graft surgeries today.

Two other members of the family are in other hospitals. Isaac, 2, is at County-USC Medical Center and listed in critical condition. The children’s mother, Melina, 42, is at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles and was in stable condition on a ventilator.

Jessica spoke in Spanish, and her story was summarized in English by the family’s priest, Father Enrique Parisi.

When the fire broke out in the early morning, Parisi related, “she and her sister were sleeping. . . . She tried to break open the window but could not.”

The girls’ father managed to get to them and led them through the flames and heavy smoke down to the first floor of the building and outside.

“He tried to go back in for the others,” Parisi said, “but the fire was too much.”

The other family members were rescued by firefighters.

Also in the Sherman Oaks hospital was Martina Landa, 41, who was critically injured in the blaze. Landa, who hospital officials believe has no family members in the Los Angeles area, suffered severe smoke damage and is on a ventilator.

The fund was established by the church that the Moreno-Fuentes family attends, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Downtown. Parisi said that donations of goods and services are needed in addition to cash. The priest said those wishing to make donations to the fund can call the church at (213) 748-5394.

Also on Friday, one of the firefighters injured during the Chatsworth wildfire was released from the Sherman Oaks hospital after about three weeks of treatment. Gary Carpenter, 35, of Downey, suffered burns over 35% of his body when caught in a firestorm that injured several other firefighters and destroyed one of his engine company’s trucks.

Carpenter thanked the public and his colleagues for their support. Although the wildfires continued for several days after he was hospitalized, he said he avoided watching them on television. “I had had enough devastation to last me.”