BETHESDA, Md. - The 2½-year-old triplet boys who were rescued from their burning Bethesda home Wednesday remain in the hospital in critical condition. Now, there is new information about why firefighters lost precious time getting the toddlers out of the house.

Fire and Explosive Investigators from the Montgomery County (web | news) Fire and Rescue Service believe the fire was accidental and the was electrical in nature. More than likely, they said, the fire was due to a failure of electrical components associated with the family's hot tub, as nearby combustibles overheated and caught on fire.

The fire extended from the exterior to inside the house via several windows, as well as an attached wood frame porch. It is believed the fire smoldered and burned undetected for an extended period before being detected by the nanny.

The family will be displaced and the damage is estimated at $500,000. Two family pet dogs also are believed to have survived, however, one is unaccounted for at this time. The house did not have smoke alarms.

Fire and rescue spokesman Pete Piringer says firefighters responded to 4806 Jamestown Road in Bethesda around 1:25 p.m. Wednesday after reports of heavy smoke coming from the back of a brick colonial house.

The housekeeper and nanny at the home, Rosa Monje, says she had just put the triplets down for a nap when she stepped out for some fresh air. That is when she noticed the giant flames. She rushed back into the home to alert the father who was on the computer upstairs.

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Upon being made aware of the fire in the rear of the house, the father initially used a nearby garden hose in an attempt to extinguish the fire. While doing so, he called 911 at which time he attempted to re-enter the house to assist his three children who were sleeping upstairs. Due to the extreme heat and thickening smoke, he was unable to retrieve them.

With the fire still burning strong, firefighters went into the upstairs bedroom and rescued the three little boys from their cribs; two were taken out of a second floor window.

"It seemed to be a little while longer until they got the other boy out," said Judith Hackett, a neighbor.

In fact, as firefighters raced to get to the three boys, they found them all in their cribs with netting around them. The netting was meant to keep the children from climbing out, but prevented firefighters from getting in quickly to rescue them. "They ended up having to get out tools in order to cut and rip the tents open in order to get their children out," said Chief Jim Resnick of the Montgomery County Fire Department. "And it made for something of a delay."

The delay was only seconds, according to the chief, but those seconds were critical. The triplets weren't burned, but they did suffer severe carbon monoxide poisoning, and remain on respirators in intensive care.

Outside the family's home, friends and strangers vowed to help out. "[It's a] big, friendly neighborhood, people are asking what they can do left and right," said neighbor Erica Wileman. "Clothing and toiletries and toys and books -- they don't have anything, it's all gone," she said.

"I've never seen or heard of any such disaster," added neighbor Nick Hill."[It's] just a tragedy."

The distraught father was treated for smoke inhalation and several burns on the scene. His three sons were rushed to Children's Hospital.

Firefighters were injured, with steam burns, during the rescue attempt. They were transported to the MedStar Burn Unit at the Washington Hospital Center in D.C. 

Firefighters are now concerned over the fact that the house did not have smoke detectors and are now trying to get out the word about their importance. They are asking neighbors in the area if they have working smoke detectors, and they are installing them for those without them.

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