CHEROKEE — A 19-year-old Cherokee woman is in critical condition at UAB Hospital’s burn center after being hurt when her house caught fire during the weekend, officials said.

State Fire Marshal Ed Paulk said today that Kimberly Pounders, 19, 86 Moody Lane, Cherokee, suffered severe burn injuries from the fire.

Firefighters said Pounders, who is autistic, was asleep in her bedroom while her parents and some friends were outside the manufactured home talking.

Officials said the girl’s father, Charles Pounders, 40, used an ax to knock a hole in the side of the trailer and get her out.

Paulk said the girl’s father suffered minor injuries as he was rescuing the girl.

He said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

“Problems with the electrical system is one of the things we are checking out right now,” Paulk said.

The fire was reported at 1:49 a.m. Sunday.