As is often the case here in the CR, both sides of the debate have some truth to them, but not all of the truth. While obviously one should immediately check smoke alarms etc. upon hearing of a tragedy like this, we both as a klal and as individuals also absolutely must do a cheshbon hanefesh in line with the Rambam that DY brought down, and know that ???? ?????? ????? ???? ??? ????? ???????? ??? ???. Both are true, and one should not take away from the other.
Sam2, I don’t think a fire caused by a faulty appliance can realistically be called “biyday adam”. Also, even if there had been a smoke alarm on the first or second floor there is no way of knowing if it would have alerted the Sasson family in time (it seems that the fire spread very quickly, lo alienu). This is not a cut and dried case of a lack of basic hishtadlus.
“when an Arab kills Jews I consider that Bidei Shamayim. There are plenty of them trying to kill plenty of us every day… This case, though, I’m not sure why it isn’t more than someone using a hot plate with faulty wiring and not having smoke detectors.”
If there is indeed a greater chance of a tragedy being caused by an Arab than a hot plate, shouldn’t the more likely (and therefore more foreseeable) case be the one where there is room to debate whether or not negligence played a role? Arabs are schiyach, so we must do our utmost to protect ourselves from them; but who views household appliances as a threat? Did you ever check to see if any of your appliances have a faulty wiring? If anything, it is that that should fall under shomer pesaim Hashem.