Dateline Dayton — Last week I told you about the fire where two children died. New details are emerging. The mother was out drinking with friends. She did come home once. To freshen her makeup. Had to. She was headed for a different bar.

Her boyfriend visited the family home just before the fire. Apparently he did not go in.

Minutes later, he was in an accident. Arrested for trespassing, he remains behind bars until it can be determined if he is American or otherwise.

Authorities do not believe he had anything to do with the fire.

The mother has not, as yet, been charged. She probably will be, though.

Commonly where children die, there are extenuating circumstances, and there are here. The mother has at least one older son whom she asked to watch the children. Her parents, who have custody of this boy, said he could not comply. They probably didn’t approve of her running around and drinking.

I hope they regret that decision, but I don’t hold them responsible. This girl was old enough to know what should have been her top priority.

She ignored it, possibly because she never received proper training in the care of children. This is especially true due to the fact that she did not have custody of her older son(s).

This is a perfect example of someone who should not have had additional children, without extensive training.

There is more.

There have been two previous fires at this house during the mother’s occupancy. The fire chief knew her young son had set the fires, and he did speak with him.
The chief suggested the mother get professional help for the boy. She refused. It is not yet known how the fire started or if the boy had anything to do with it.

Last weekend, two children died in Troy, north of here, due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Two other children were taken to the hospital, one of whom died. The other is fighting for his life. The grandmother, with whom the four children lived, was taken to the hospital earlier in the week with was thought to be pneumonia. Authorities believe she may have been suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.

The problem in this case was a clogged furnace flue, traced to a deteriorating chimney. A simple, inexpensive, carbon monoxide alarm could have prevented this tragedy.

If you have gas service, please have an alarm.

‘Bye for Now

Next week I will be on vacation. Time for our week in Florida.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net