Child dies after St. Paul house fire that also injured mother, five siblings

A child rescued this week from a St. Paul house fire that also seriously injured her mother and five siblings has died.

Pa Cheng Vang said his eldest daughter died Wednesday after the fire that morning hospitalized her and other family members.

He said three of his children are suffering from brain damage, irregular heart beats and low blood pressure. His other two children have begun moving and are "out of a critical zone," he said, but his wife's condition was unclear.

"I [am] the only one that support my whole family with shelter and foods. We have [no] life insurance cover[age] for our kid due to [lack] of income," Vang said in an online fundraiser.

"I was hoping family, friends and community can help me out with just a small cheap funeral home, decent standard coffin and a place for her stay."

Vang later edited the page to add: " Doctor gave me a very emotional news, that my 3 little [ones] will not able to make it in the next 24 [hours]. I only hope that I can get as much fund[s] as I can. Mom also in high risk."

Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, finding Vang's wife and six children inside. Some of them suffered serious burns. All were unresponsive when emergency crews arrived.

Ramsey County Commissioner Mai Chong Xiong, whose district includes the Vangs' home, said she is heartbroken for their family.

"I know that as a working-class parent, you do everything to protect and provide for your family, but coming home from work to find your family in critical condition and your home burnt down is unimaginable," Xiong said.

"I ask community members to consider making a donation to help this family through a very hard and trying time."

Neighbor Susan Sellers and her family were among the first to call 911 as black smoke billowed from the doors and windows of Vang's home. Sellers' family plays with the family's children and often greet each other when walking to the bus stop. For them, watching firefighters rush in and out of the home before giving CPR to children as young as 6 months old was traumatizing, she said.

"I was crying all night," Sellers said hours after the fire. "They're very nice people."

Officials have not determined what caused the fire, but investigators said they do not believe its origin is suspicious.