Three people were killed and two others were seriously injured in a devastating fire at a Temple City home Sunday evening, authorities said.

L.A. County Fire Department spokesman Fred Fielding said he received a call about a residential fire in the 6000 block of Sultana Boulevard at 4:49 p.m. He said fire crews arrived at the scene in less than five minutes, saw heavy smoke and fire coming from the building, and immediately went into rescue mode.

Three people were found dead in the home, but firefighters were able to help two more victims and transport them to local hospitals.

“They (the firefighters) really did an excellent job and were able to treat and transport these two patients,” Fielding said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them. “There are seriously injured people, but I hope they survive.”

After the rescue efforts, firefighters quickly took action to control the fire and opened a hole in the roof of the house to allow heat and smoke to escape, he said. They then focused on getting water to the building as quickly as possible and extinguished the fire by 5:20 p.m.

The Fire Department’s arson team will work with the LA County Sheriff’s Department to investigate the cause of the fire and deaths, Fielding said. No other information about the five victims was immediately available.