2 Children Dead, 5 Other People Critically Injured After Fire Tears Through Minnesota Home
Among the five injured individuals are four children and an adult, described as their mother on GoFundMe
Two children have died after a fire tore through a Minnesota home just days after the new year began.
Seven people — an adult and six children — “were rescued from the home” on the 1200 block of Arkwright Street in St. Paul after crews responded to the blaze around 1:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, according to the local fire department.
All seven individuals were hospitalized after the blaze, the SPFD said.
The Vang family has since confirmed that their son and daughter have died, according to FOX affiliate KMSP-TV and ABC affiliate KSTP-TV.
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Among those killed is the family’s oldest twin girl, who died the day of the fire, father Pacheng Vang said in the description of a fundraiser on GoFundMe.
One of the children “has a 50/50 chance” of survival, while their mother “is also at high risk of not recovering.”
“Please help pray and hope that they all will make it,” Pacheng wrote.
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All seven victims were unconscious when they were found inside the home, SPFD Deputy Chief Roy Mokosso said at a press conference Wednesday morning, shared by KMSP-TV.
The children’s father was at work when the fire began, he added.
One rescuer was able to rescue three children from the blaze, said Chief Butch Inks, who believes crews’ rapid response time may have helped save lives.
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Three women, who were next door when the fire began, said the children looked “lifeless” as they were pulled out of the burning building, according to CBS affiliate WCCO-TV.
Crews administered CPR to the victims, whose injuries were “predominantly from smoke inhalation,” before they were transported to local hospitals in critical condition, Mokosso said.
As of Friday evening, more than $152,000 has been raised via GoFundMe for the Vang family.
Pacheng said he just had the “best time” playing with his kids in their alley recently and was thrilled to “celebrate a fresh New Year” with his family.
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“I can't believe it would be my last time I spent with my kids,” he added.
Crews remained on scene for a few hours after the blaze was extinguished to conduct an investigation, said Mokosso.
Smoke detectors inside the home were seemingly working at the time, and the blaze appeared to be accidental, he added.
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