NATION IN BRIEF : MICHIGAN : Father Blamed in Fire That Killed 7 Children

A father who was attempting to thaw a frozen water pipe accidentally set the Detroit house fire that killed seven children, arson investigators said. Police released the father, Leroy Lyons, and Sheree Williams, mother of six of the children, after questioning them about why they left the children alone locked in the house where they died. Prosecutors said they were considering charges of involuntary manslaughter or neglect against Lyons, Williams and Crystal Brayboy, the mother of the seventh child. Brayboy was not arrested. Richard Padzieski, chief of operations for the Wayne County prosecutor’s office, said no decision on the charges would be made until after the children were buried next week.