Child Endangerment Charges Pending after Kids Escape Hibbing Apartment Fire

A 23-year-old Hibbing woman is behind bars pending child endangerment charges after her two kids escaped an apartment fire while being left home alone. 

The Hibbing Fire Department responded to reports of an apartment fire on the 2300 block of 4th Avenue East around 5 Tuesday night. 

When crews arrived, they found smoke coming out of a first floor door. 

A neighbor told authorities they were alerted to the fire after a 5-year-old and 2-year-old came to their door.  The kids told the neighbor their mother was at work. 

The fire was isolated to the kitchen area. The 5-year-old said the younger child was by the stove and some papers started on fire, which started some adjacent garbage on fire.   The apartment had smoke alarms, but they were not working at the time. 

Damages were estimated at $15,000. 

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, however, it is believed to be the result of unattended children.  

The mother of the children is currently in custody at the St. Louis County Jail in Hibbing pending two counts of child endangerment.