Metro

Tragic mom: I put out candles before fire that killed kids

A Bronx mom who lost three of her five children in a fast-moving fire allegedly caused by candles insisted to cops she had extinguished the candles before heading to bed, sources said.

Tashika Turner, 25, told authorities she lit five candles Friday night and was lying on her bed with her 4-month-old twins while her older kids were on a nearby couch — but insisted she had blown out the candles before going to sleep.

She awoke to the smell of smoke at around 8 p.m., authorities said. Turner was able to hand off her 4-month-old daughter, Michelle, to a neighbor. But Michelle’s twin, Michael; Elijah Artis, and Jeremiah Artis, 2, were all killed in the blaze. Her 4-year-old daughter, Maya, survived. The fire was believed to be caused by a candle in the kitchen, the FDNY said.

“I’m just taking it as best as I could, one day at a time,” grieving dad Tyrone Artis said during a brief visit to the site of the fire on West 165th Street.

Makeshift memorials sprang up outside the apartment building with teddy bears, candles and signs reading: “RIP Babies” and “God bless we lost 3 Angels.”

Con Edison removed the electric meter Thursday after Turner’s arrears reached more than $9,200, the landlord said.

Neighbor Charlotte Amakye, 38, saw a desperate Turner on the fire escape.

“She had her little baby in her arms, she was crying and screaming, ‘Help me, help me!’ ” Amakye said.

Amakye helped get the infant girl to safety.

A Con Ed spokesman said the utility tries to work with customers before turning off the power.

“We don’t want to turn electricity off,” said Allan Drury.