HOUSTON, Texas — A townhouse fire in the Heights sent a family of four to the hospital, including a father who was in critical condition, according to the Houston Fire Department.

District Chief Terry Amaro said the fire appeared to start in the garage and involved a car. The father was burned while pulling the car out as he tried to help his family escape.

Before firefighters arrived, neighbors caught children who jumped from a third-story window, Amaro said. Neighbors also helped the mother, who jumped from the third floor and was hospitalized with back injuries. The two young children had minor injuries.

Firefighters used an adjoining townhouse to put out the fire after the stairwells failed in the burning unit. A shared firewall kept the flames from spreading. Amaro said the burned townhouse was a total loss and crews caused minor damage to the adjoining unit. No firefighters were injured.

Amaro said the fire appeared accidental based on footage from neighbors’ Ring cameras. The cause remains under investigation.