Unattended candle suspected cause of St. Paul fire that killed 4 kids; Saturday vigil planned

Mara H. Gottfried, Pioneer Press
Updated ·4 min read

An unattended candle most likely caused a St. Paul house fire that left four children dead, the fire department said Thursday of its preliminary finding.

The fire was accidental. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has assisted with the investigation, according to Deputy Fire Chief Roy Mokosso.

A vigil is scheduled for Saturday to support the family. It’s being held at American Indian Magnet School, where twins who perished were kindergarteners and where their mother works. Ker Lor and two of her children remain hospitalized.

It appears the family couldn’t get out of their Payne-Phalen home because the fire was by the front door and escaping out the back would have meant a drop from a second-story level, Mokosso said Thursday.

The vigil from 1-3 p.m. Saturday is open to the public and will be inside the school at 1075 E. Third St., according to the Hmong 18 Council.

“Let us come together to shine a light for healing and supporting the Vang Family,” the Council wrote.

Clothes, gifts accepted for surviving children

People have reached out about donations for the two surviving children, who “lost their Christmas toys & presents, home, and belongings” in the fire, the Council wrote, saying that anyone who wants to bring donations can do so on Saturday.

A 6-year-old boy, who is a first-grader at American Indian Magnet School, wears size 6-7. A girl, who is 2 and will turn 3 next month, wears size 3-4.

For people who want to send gifts to the children, the Hmong 18 Council said they can mail them to their office, Attention: Vang Family and children, 911 E. Maryland Ave., Suite F1, St. Paul, MN 55106.

Lor has worked at the school since the fall of 2022. She is a special education teaching assistant, according to the school district. She previously was an intern in St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter’s office.

Lor remains in critical condition, while her two children are doing better, said Tongai Vang, an uncle of her husband, Pa Cheng Vang, on Thursday.

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“American Indian Magnet School and the entire St. Paul Public Schools community are holding Pa Cheng Vang and his family in our hearts,” said Erica Wacker, school district spokesperson. “This unthinkable tragedy is something no family should ever have to experience. We are wrapping our arms around them and will continue to support the family however we can in the days and months to come.”

Vang was at work on Jan. 3 when a fire broke out at his home on Arkwright Street near Maryland Avenue about 1:30 a.m. Firefighters carried out the home’s seven occupants, each unconscious, giving them all CPR at the scene and getting them to the hospital.

Siv Ntshiab Vang, 5, died later that day. Her twin sister, Ntshiab Siv Vang, and brother, Muaj Tshav Ntuj Vang, 4, died Jan. 5. Muaj Cag Txuj Vang, an 18-month-old boy, passed away Jan. 6.

A fundraiser for the children’s funerals and in support of the family can be found at gofundme.com/f/siv-ntshiab.

Safety reminders

There were working smoke detectors in the home, Mokosso has said. The fire investigation report has not been finalized.

The Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division says the fire “is a heart-breaking reminder of how important it is to have a plan to escape in case of a fire, as well as properly working smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms.”

State Fire Marshal Dan Krier says people should practice fire drills at home.

“If you have a working smoke alarm, you have about three minutes to get out of your burning home,” the Minnesota Department of Public Safety wrote in a Thursday blog post. “When you’re faced with a wall of fire, you don’t have the time or luxury of thinking about an alternate escape route for the first time. … Your plan should include multiple ways to get out of a home — whether it’s through a window or a door — as well as each room. Think about how you’d exit a second story room and if you’re trapped by fire, close the door, open a window and be ready to alert firefighters when they arrive.”

Without a working smoke alarm, chances of surviving a house fire are cut in half, according to DPS. Smoke alarms should be in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of a home, including the basement. They should be tested monthly and batteries should be changed at least once a year.

Carbon monoxide alarms should be within 10 feet of each sleeping room or inside each bedroom of a residence.

Information from the State Fire Marshal about safety, including creating an escape plan, can be found at bit.ly/422xxhF.

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