Fire in Visalia Kills Mother, Four Children : Tragedy: Woman took one child to safety, but died after re-entering the burning house for the others, officials say.

A mother and her four young children died in a fire apparently ignited by something flammable on top of a floor furnace, firefighters said Wednesday.

“Some type of furniture and/or material fell over the floor furnace,” according to a report released by Joan Stovall, Visalia Fire Department information officer.

Autopsies were scheduled to determine whether the victims died of smoke inhalation or burned to death, said Jay Salazar, Tulare County assistant coroner.

Family members identified the mother as Connie Guerra Hinojos, 26, and her children as Gabriel, 9; Marcos, 4; Angel, 3, and Delicia, 4 months. A 5-year-old son, Isaac, survived.

“They were so little,” neighbor Gloria Mejia said. “They’re little angels.”

The mother managed to get Isaac out of the house as it burned about 10:20 p.m. Tuesday night.

“The mother returned to rescue some of the additional kids, and she did not make it out,” said fire division Chief George Sandoval.

The dead woman’s husband and the children’s father, identified by neighbors as Isaac Hinojos, returned home as firefighters arrived. He reportedly tried to get into the house, but firefighters held him back.

“Fire personnel entered the structure through the bedroom window where the children were said to be,” a Fire Department report said. “A search was conducted while the fire was held in check. No survivors were found.”

The 30-year-old, single-story, wood and stucco house sustained about $50,000 damage, the Fire Department said.