Rotterdam mom arrested after kids were hurt in house fire

A mother of three children who firefighters rescued from a burning apartment in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde on Thursday night, was arrested. The woman is suspected of negligence, a police spokesperson said to NU.nl.

The fire broke out in a third floor apartment on Grienderwaard around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday. Three kids, aged 14, 12 and 2 years, were home alone at the time. The two older boys managed to get the toddler onto the balcony of the flat below them through a window, and then get themselves onto the balcony.

The kids were taken to hospital. One sustained burns, another cut himself on broken glass, the fire department said, according to the newspaper. How they are doing now, is unclear.

Their mother was not at home when the fire happened, but was in the area. The woman was negligent when she left her kids, including a toddler, home alone, the police spokesperson said to NU.nl. She was arrested and was still in custody on Friday afternoon.

According to the police spokesperson, the children will be given somewhere safe to stay.

It is not clear whether the family was known to aid organizations before this incident. They are offered help now, according to the police.