Mother May Face Charges in Downtown Fire | News

LAS VEGAS -- Three small children remain in critical condition Thursday after a fire broke out in their downtown apartment while they were home alone.

Their mother was not home last night when the fire broke out just after 8 p.m. Wednesday. The apartment now sits empty, and the kids are still at University Medical Center. Their mother could soon be heading to jail.

The kids apparently started the mattress fire with either some matches or a lighter. When firefighters arrived, they found them unresponsive, suffering from smoke inhalation.

Several neighbors said the mother was hardly home and the kids were often left to fend for themselves.

"They used to come around and play with mine. I would give them snacks and feed them, but she's never home," said neighbor Mariah Gandara.

"The kids are good, just need good supervision and that's what it was, bad supervision and bad things happen," said neighbor Phillip Misner.

Authorities said the mom eventually came home and said there was supposed to be a babysitter there. An investigation is underway and it is possible she could face charges.

Fire officials say two of the kids are 3-year-old twins and the older boy is 5.