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SARATOGA SPRINGS — A couple and their young daughter were severely burned Saturday night when their van burst into flames after a family outing, firefighters said.
About 9 p.m., the family was getting ready to leave Pelican Bay Marina in Saratoga Springs after spending the day out on the lake with their boat, said Saratoga Springs Fire Chief Jess Campbell.
Their van, an older model Chevrolet, had been causing "some difficulty," Campbell said.
"There were multiple possible ignition sources," Campbell said. "The interior of the van basically burst into a ball of fire pretty quickly, and there were three children in the van as well as the parents."
Because the van was destroyed in the flames, Campbell said firefighters have not been able to determine a cause of the fire.
This was "nothing more than a tragic accident," he said.
Two children were able to get away with no serious injures, but the youngest, a 4-year-old girl, was stuck in her seat belt. While the parents tried to get the girl out, they were all severely burned, according to Campbell.
Bystanders who saw the fire unhooked the boat and got it off the back of the van.
The mother and daughter were flown to University of Utah burn center, while the father was driven there in an ambulance. The mother and daughter remained in critical condition as of Sunday afternoon, while the father's condition was described as less serious than those of his family members.
Amy Downing Loveless lives near the marina and recalled hearing sirens and "chaos" when the fire happened.
"There were a lot of tears out here. Lot of people were affected," she said on Sunday.
Loveless and other neighbors are now trying to raise money to help pay for the family's treatment.
"We just know the astronomical costs that are coming, and burden as well as suffering that this family is going through. We're hoping that the neighbors pitch in," Loveless said.
Campbell called the incident "a very tragic situation. … Our thoughts and prayers for the family and hope that all goes as well as absolutely possible."
Neighbors established a GoFundMe campaign to help the family pay medical bills. According to the campaign, they live in Saratoga Springs.
Contributing: Sean Moody
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
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Editor's Note: In a previous version, the fire chief said the man was believed to have been working on the van's carburetor when the fire occurred, and that there were gas cans in the back of the vehicle. He clarified Monday that firefighters haven't been able to confirm that information.
