Worse then the Government, Hovensa Closing, et al.

No one has been arrested at this time and the case remains under active investigation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How disgusting is this?

Unfortunately this sort of thing happens all the time everywhere. There have been several cases here and the parents (as is the case in other jurisdictions) are charged with parental neglect. I'm not sure why you added all the exclamation points. Is there a problem with this being actively investigated?

Facts seem to be correct, appears no adults at the scene when fire started, call went to 911, and sadly with have children with injuries.

Concur with OldTart, happens all the time everywhere---SAD, against the law to have 14 year old babysitting his brother and sisters ?

Timelines for investigation and or no arrest----not unusually, as the police have to gather all the facts----and remember, what the family is dealing with after the incident

So somewhat confused like Oldtart, not sure the point your to make with the Title: Worse then the Government, Hovensa Closing et. al. -----as I see no negative on the government actions or lack of actions unless more information reveals the fire department response time after the initial call was not normal for a call received-----not sure where you get the information on time the call was received by 911.

Please clarify your point you are trying to discuss,

age depends on where you live as to what ages they can be left in charge. a 14 year old is not that young but with 4 children younger than that, i dont know.
the story is sad. i hope all of the children will be okay

When I first saw the news release, that is the one thing that caught my attention also. Where were the mothers at 3AM?

As sad as this is, I did read the article and found nothing unusual as to the agencies mo... It is gross negligence, yet, you have to let the investigation run and thing will unfold...

I was taken also by the news on the hit and run, where a mother was killed by a motorist while she was with her kid @ 5pm in Christiansted...

wow, i did not hear that either. my news source has not been in for two weeks. when did the hit and run happen.

US Virgin Islands Police Department

We need your help St. Croix! Please help me get out this message to the community.
This morning, Sunday, August 18 at about 5 a.m. a woman was walking with her 4-year-old son or grandson in Christiansted on North Shore road in the area of the doctors offices just west of the District Court when she was struck by a vehicle and died at the scene. The vehicle did not stop.
A concerned citizen found the minor child and brought him to the police station. The vehicle is apparently a black or dark colored Suziki jeep. The Suzuki Jeep will have front end damage from being involved in this hit and run.
The VIPD is asking the entire community to be on the look out for a black or dark colored jeep with front end damage. All body shops and car repair businesses are asked to call police immediately upon seeing a vehicle fitting this description. Anyone who may have been driving in the area around that time and saw anything unusual, please report it to police immediately.
#hitandrunvipd

My 14 year old granddaughter sits other kids. Scares me to death. On the other hand, this young woman got all the kids out ok. Must be a pretty responsible person.

terrible title,

one of the best logical Fallacy example's I've seen in a while however.. (this would be Appeal to emotion).

the real story here is the hit & run... I'll keep my eyes out for a dark colored suzuki with front end damage, but knowing the island if it happened @ C'sted I probably won't see it out west

Agree with Linda J. The young girl did get them all out.
Is 14 years old too young?? I guess it depends on the 14 year old.

i was baby sitting at that age, do i think it is too young. usually not. do i think its horrible the other children were left in her care while mom was out. no do i think it is horrible what happened with the fire yes. in most states i think you can baby sit as young as 12. at 14 you are most likely in the 9th 10th grade, not too little to baby sit. smart young person to get all of the kids out. no need to condemn the mom though. its not like the oldest was 9 or so

Some of those 14 year olds ARE the mothers....that's the real problem....

i will give you that. sad situation when that happens

So, the title of this did EXACTLY what is was intended to do, get attention. In retrospect, it is also accurate!

Yes, this type of incident is not only happening on STX but elsewhere in the U.S. and I think we can all agree that it is occurring MUCH TOO OFTEN. And why, likely and statisically because of the ongoing breakdown of the family, values, and basic responsibility and accountability.

Some of you got it,,,,WHERE ARE THE MOTHERS AT 3am? Also, WHERE ARE THE FATHERS? We all know where they all were and probably what they were doing!

So, this is where we are headed.

73 per cent of black babies are born outside marriage
53 per cent of of Latino babies are born outside marriage
29 per cent of white babies are born outside marriage

And educational divides:

92 per cent of college-educated women are married when they have a child
62 per cent of those with post-secondary schooling are married when they give birth
43 per cent of women with a high school diploma are married when they give birth

I don't think this has anything to do with the breakup of the family. Young teens have been babysitting forever. I'm well past 60 and I can remember both HAVING and BEING a young sitter.

the children were being taken care of by a responsible teen. mothers are allowed to go out as long as they have a responsible care giver, which this teen clearly was. the fire was unfortunate. that no one was killed a miracle.
not if the child had been younger than that, i would be outraged that the children were left alone. i can remember being left alone while my parents went out to christmas dinners and such at younger ages. i can also remember being left alone for two weeks at the age of 16 while my family went to michigan, i had a job and could not go. the day they came back, i cut my leg and had to go to the hospital. talk about timing.
teens at that age can and are responsible to care for their younger siblings in most cases.

any word on what started the fire?

I don't think anyone except the people involved know what the parents were doing away from the apartment at 3am.
My guess would be that they were out trying to earn money to pay for all the kids' needs. Or maybe enjoying a night out after busting their butts non-stop all week to make ends meet.
Ultimately, it is none of my business. I'm glad that they had some responsible kids and concerned neighbors so that no one was injured any worse.

An update from the VI Daily News... The adults are likely to be charged with neglect...

http://virginislandsdailynews.com/news/frederiksted-fire-that-injured-six-children-started-by-a-cigarette-1.1553257

"The children were from two different families and none of the parents were at home at the time of the fire and had told investigators that they had only stepped out for a minute to purchase cigarettes ..."

How many parents does it take to buy cigarettes in the very wee hours of the morning. Good grief.

I suppose it depends on what type of cigarette one is looking for.

Where were the mothers at 3 AM? Where else? Out making more babies.