ST PAUL, Minn. — Fire officials say an unattended candle most likely caused the fire that led to the deaths of four children, according to the St. Paul Fire Department.
The report is not yet final, but fire officials said in a press release Thursday that the investigation pointed to an unattended candle, and more information will be released at a press conference Saturday morning.
The four children 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.
At a news conference last week, Pa Cheng Vang, the children's father, said he was grateful for the community’s support since the fire broke out early on Wednesday, Jan. 3. He was at work at the time.
The children's 28-year-old mother remains hospitalized in critical condition, Vang said. Two other children also remain hospitalized, but their conditions have improved.
The children's mother is also at high risk of not surviving, according to a post on a GoFundMe created by the family. The GoFundMe has far exceeded the family's goal of $350,000 as of Thursday, with more than $460,000 donated for funeral expenses.
Officials say the fire broke out just after 1:31 a.m. at a home on the 1200 block of Arkwright Street North. When firefighters arrived, they located seven victims on the main level of the home. Deputy Chief Mokosso said the victims were unconscious when they were pulled from the home, and paramedics immediately performed CPR on all of them before they were rushed to the hospital.
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