Hawk: that they didn't have insurance is true, that they didn't see it as a priority is an assumption that may be utterly false. When there isn't enough money to provide all the 'should haves', there are a lot of things ahead of insurance on the list, like paying the mortgage/rent, food, utilities, etc. Life is tough when there isn't enough money, and the stress of knowing what isn't being covered just makes it worse. Poor doesn't mean stupid, or even ignorant. It means stressed in ways you can't imagine if you've been fortunate to have never 'been there'.
Totally agree that there are circumstances. But when you add in the fact that mom was pregnant, well, there HAD to be some money there, right? Not having any would've been downright irresponsible.
Both of us are merely speculating here. Perhaps the husband made good money, yet they didn't see the need for insurance. Maybe they liked to try their luck. Either way, I don't see home insurance as a "luxury," same as I don't see car insurance as one. A lot of people see both as a luxury, since it doesn't bring them anything NOW. It's called living dangerously.
Perhaps, even, they have an older home that couldn't be insured; which also could've led to the fire itself.
Either way, it's tragic. There are going to be a lot of 'ifs' that haunt the parents for the rest of their lives. I truly wish them the best possible outcome.