Eight people have been taken to hospital following a fire at a house in Mullingar, Co Westmeath this morning.
Five members of a family, including three children (aged six, seven and 13) managed to escape through an upstairs window of the house after the fire broke out shortly before 2am on Grange Crescent in the town.
Two gardaí then entered the house and rescued a two-year-old girl who was trapped in an upstairs bedroom.
All six family members were taken to the Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar where the mother of the family is described as being in a serious condition.
Two of the children were later taken to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin.
The two gardaí were also treated at the Midlands Regional Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
The scene has been preserved for technical examination and investigations are ongoing.