Unattended Candle Likely Cause of Fire Leading to Tragic Deaths of Four Children – St. Paul Fire Department

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KARE11) – The St. Paul Fire Department announced that an unattended candle is believed to be the cause of a fire that tragically claimed the lives of four children. Although the investigation is still ongoing, fire officials released a press statement on Thursday indicating that all evidence points to the unattended candle as the source of the devastating blaze. Further details will be disclosed during a press conference scheduled for Saturday morning.

The four children who lost their lives in the fire have been identified as 5-year-old twin girls Sivntxhi Vang and Ntshiab Si Vang, 4-year-old boy Muaj Tshav Ntaj Vang, and 1-year-old boy Muaj Vang.

During a news conference held last week, Pa Cheng Vang, the children’s father, expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support from the community. The fire occurred early in the morning on Wednesday, January 3, while he was at work. The children’s mother, aged 28, remains hospitalized in critical condition, with two other children also receiving medical treatment. Fortunately, their conditions have shown signs of improvement.

The mother’s survival is uncertain, putting her at high risk, as stated in a GoFundMe page created by the family to cover funeral expenses. The response from the public has been overwhelming, with donations exceeding the initial goal of $350,000. As of Thursday, the GoFundMe campaign has amassed over $460,000.

The fire broke out on the 1200 block of Arkwright Street North, shortly after 1:31 a.m. Firefighters swiftly arrived at the scene and found seven victims unconscious on the main level of the house. Paramedics immediately initiated CPR on all victims before promptly transporting them to the hospital. Deputy Chief Mokosso confirmed that the victims were in critical condition at the time of their rescue.

The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the dangers associated with unattended candles. Fire safety experts strongly advise against leaving candles unsupervised, as they can easily ignite nearby objects and cause devastating consequences.