MARRERO, La. -- Eleven members of a close-knit family of brothers, sisters, a godchild and a caring grandmother died in a fire early Thursday, just hours after they moved into a new apartment in Marrero.

Four people survived the fire and were apparently not injured seriously. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee said the fire broke out when family members were unable to get a burning mattress out the door. Lee says the house was without electricity and they were using candles.

Family members said the victims ranged in age from 6 months to 45 years. Bertha Norman, a close friend of Sabrina Wilson, the family's grandmother who had rented the new apartment, said the family of 15 had been living in a run-down three-bedroom, two-story house in Harvey but moved into their new townhouse in the middle of the night.

Ernest Pierre, the new landlord who is also a sheriff's deputy, choked up when he met reporters at the scene shortly after the fire broke out. He said he was unaware that 15 people were in the apartment, believing he had rented the townhouse to Wilson and a handful of her family members.

Federal officials said Thursday's blaze illustrates the need for new federal safety standards for mattresses.

Scott Wolfson, of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, said the prevalence of more candles in homes has led to growing concern about combustible materials such as the mattresses.

Wolfson said California just implemented new regulations in January for fire-resistant mattresses, and the CPSC is considering tougher national standards.

A special report in 2001 from the CPSC showed that fires caused by candles have increased dramatically -- from 20 deaths in 1980 to 170 in 1998.

The victims of the fire are:

- Sabrina Nicole Wilson, 35, mother and grandmother who rented the townhouse
- Curtis Legier Wilson Jr., 42, Sabrina Wilson's mentally-handicapped brother
- Tiffany Denise Wilson, 33, Sabrina Wilson's sister
- Latoya Monique Wilson, 18, Sabrina Wilson's daughter
- Sylvain Wilson, 14, Sabrina Wilson's son
- Sterling Dominick Wilson, 12, Sabrina Wilson's son
- Chelsea Sabrina Wilson, 10, Sabrina Wilson's daughter
- Stephanie Tennisha Wilson, 9, Sabrina Wilson's daughter
- Quastella Senette, 3, Sabrina Wilson's god child
- Nar'ya Monique Brooks, 1, Latoya Wilson's daughter
- Hyran "Joe" Wilson, 7 months, Latoya Wilson's son

The survivors are:

- Ireone Wilson, 17, Sabrina Wilson's daughter
- George Wilson, 39, Sabrina Wilson's brother
- Somarin Wilson, 7 months, Ireone Wilson's son
- Amos Harding, 19, Ireone Wilson's boyfriend