Two brothers aged 2 and 5 were badly injured, and their mother and neighbor lightly hurt, in a blaze that took place at a Netanya apartment on Tuesday.

Fire department official Natahn Aharon said the blaze apparently started while the children were home alone. According to Aharon, a firefighter crew arrived at the scene at the same time the children's mother returned from a nearby community center. She was hurt by inhaling smoke while letting the firefighters into the locked apartment.

Netanya police opened an investigation into the incident which they suspect was caused by a short circuit. Netanya hospital officials said that the children were transferred to Haifa's Rambam Medical Center where their injuries could be better treated.