The RCMP is investigating an apparent attempted murder and arson in the Willowbrook area of Langley, B.C., early this morning.

A woman and her two children escaped the fire that gutted their home in the 19600 block of Wakefield Drive just after 1 a.m. PT.

Police say the woman's estranged husband, a 44-year-old Langley man, broke into the home and set the fire before going into his wife's bedroom and assaulting her with a weapon.

The daughter ran to help her mother, and was also struck with the weapon.

The mother, daughter and son all ran from the house before it became engulfed in flames.

Police say they don't know where the assailant went.

Fire crews did a preliminary search of the burnt home, but won't be able to complete a full search until the structure cools.

Police say the suspect is known to them "for previous domestic violence occurrences."