San Diego

San Diego Fire officials said a discarded cigarette may have started a fire inside a car that slightly injured three small children Thursday.

The children, ages 1, 2 and 4, were reported in good condition Thursday night at UC San Diego Medical Center, where they were treated for burns and smoke inhalation, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Firefighters responded to report of a fire in a car outside Horton Elementary School in the 5000 block of Guymon Street, Fire Capt. Al Macdonald said.

They found the fire had been put out by the children’s grandmother, who was driving when the children in the back seat began screaming. She stopped the car and got the children out.

An ambulance took the children to the hospital.