Mother, Child Critical After Fire at Long Beach Apartment Building

A mother and her young child were in critical condition after a fire broke out at an apartment building in Long Beach early Thursday.

The 47-year-old woman and her 4-year-old daughter were both given emergency treatment then taken to a hospital after being rescued from the blaze, a Long Beach Fire Department spokesman said. Two dogs was also found dead at the scene.

The fire broke out in the three-story complex in the 1000 block of Stanley Avenue just after 12 a.m., and was confined a single apartment on the top level. It was unknown how much the loss was, nor if smoke detectors inside were working, fire officials said.

After the fire department's helicopter raised the alarm, nine units were sent to fight the two-alarm blaze, fire officials said.

Firefighters found the mother and daughter inside a bedroom. Two other people who live in the apartment were not inside, fire officials said.

A neighbor rushed to the apartment when he saw flames.

"I was trying to open the door, I kicked it and then I finally turned the knob," Alejandro Arevalo said. He saw flames from the balcony to the living room, he said.