Fire Marshal: Deadly fire started in living room

HAMILTON, Ohio -- The Ohio State Fire Marshal's Office said Monday the fire that killed three children in Hamilton started in the living room of their rental home Friday.

Investigators stopped short of saying what caused the blaze at 135 Franklin St., according to state fire marshal spokesperson Lindsey Burnworth. But she said there was a Christmas tree, heaters and electric outlets in the room.

Burnworth said it was too soon for investigations to determine what sparked the fire that killedAlex Flores-Ortiz, 7, and his sisters,SiclaliFlores-Ortiz, 10, andYeseniaFlores-Ortiz, 12.

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Flores-Ortiz family members had earlier said Crystal Flores, the children's mother,believed the tree fell over in the living room and started the fire.

Trevor Snider, a Hamilton Fire Department investigator assisting in the case, said investigators found three battery-powered smoke detectors in the house.

"There was one on each floor," he said. "And, in addition, there was one on the first floor. Both were quite heavily damaged. One was actually missing to the point we could not check if it was operational or if it had a battery in it. The one on the second floor did have a battery and there was one in the basement with a battery."

Ismael"Michael" Flores-Ortiz, the children's father, remained at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Ismael's sister told the Journal News on Monday that her brother suffered severe burns when he ran into the fire and tried to save his children trapped in their bedroom. He is improving, she said.

Crystal Flores and the couple's 2-year-old Anthony were treated and released from Fort Hamilton Hospital. A 9-year-old escaped the fire without injury.

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Fire Marshal: Deadly fire started in living room