I get so disgusted by the cruelty of people on this site. The mother probably was no more negligent than any other mother - NYC has gas stoves, and the older ones (which were no doubt what were in this apartment) can shoot out a lot of flame.
The child, a little boy, had been warned off them before, but having had a son who constantly had to be dragged off from playing with matches, gotten from I knew not where, I can understand that. Many little boys come across as juvenile pyros - not the sickos who like setting fire to things and animals, but simply boys who like to start and see fires. So they have to be watched until they are old enough to understand the damage that they can do with this. But a three year old can slip away in no time at all.
And in any case, what does it matter that they were Jamaican or African immigrants? Burning to death was no more fun for them than it would have been for a pure WASP, which seems to be the only group that counts for some here. Hope it never happens to you, folks, and please try to show some kindness. (Not talking to you, Tazzo, but simply about some of the responses to your post.)
Thank you.