House fire kills 10 people.
http://www.kystandard.com/articles/2007/02/07/news/local_news/news01.txt
Wednesday, February 7, 2007 8:07 AM EST
TOM DEKLE NEWS/PHOTO EDITOR
TOM DEKLE/The Kentucky Standard - A fire early Tuesday morning in Bardstown resulted in the death of 10 people, several of which were children. Investigators were still trying to piece together exactly what happened Tuesday afternoon.
Six children, four adults believed among victims
Official ids have not been released
There are 10 confirmed deaths and two injuries in a house fire early Tuesday morning in Bardstown. Names and ages of the victims had not been released by Tuesday afternoon but early reports indicate that at least six of the victims are children, ranging in age from a few months to age 12.
Family members and friends say the children were a 17-month-old girl, a boy and girl twin set who were 2, a 3-year-old girl who would have celebrated her fourth birthday today and two older girls ages 8 and 11.
The adults inside the home were said to be mothers and grandparents of the children.
The fire is thought to be the worst disaster in Nelson County in terms of loss of life.
Firefighters responded to a 3:51 a.m. call regarding a fire at a single-family home at 235 Guthrie Street, between Springfield Road and Bloomfield Road in Bardstown.
The building, a one-story brick home, was rented by Johnny Litsey, who was apparently among the victims. Family members say Litsey went by the nickname “Whiskey.”
The fire was reported by a neighbor from across the street.
Bardstown Fire Chief Anthony Mattingly said this was the worst fire he has experienced in his 28-year career with the Bardstown Fire Department.
Mattingly said firefighters responded within minutes to the call and found the home already engulfed in flame. Damage extended throughout the home and victims were found in several locations in the house, Mattingly said.
One man was found alive at the rear of the home. He was extricated and transported to Flaget Memorial Hospital but was pronounced dead at the hospital.
One other adult managed to escape from the house, according to public information officer Tom Isaac, One man was taken by ambulance to Flaget Hospital with facial burns, while a woman who came to the home apparently after the fire started was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The unidentified man was later transferred by Statcare helicopter to University Hospital in Louisville.
There have been reports that an explosion preceded the fire, but the cause still remains unknown, according to Isaac.
“We’re still trying to piece together,” what exactly happened, Mattingly said. “We’re still trying to gather information.”
Several agencies are involved with the response to the fire, including the state fire marshals office, the state medical examiners office, the state police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, which volunteered
assistance.
Rob Godwin of the Fire Marshall’s office said work is just starting to determine the cause and origin of the fire.
“We need to be very careful and methodical,” said Tracey Corey, M.D., the chief medical examiner for Kentucky.
“The bodies will go to Louisville,” she said. “We’ll proceed in our usual efficient and thorough fashion … we’re not in any rush.”
“The city is grieving for the victims,” said Bardstown mayor Dick Heaton. Emergency personnel and relief agencies are “providing as much support as possible to the families,” Heaton said, commending the fire department for a fast response and an expert job.
“We want to extend our deep condolences,” said Teresa Hill, secretary of the Environmental Public Protection cabinet for the state.
Godwin said A.T.F. “called and offered assistance,” with the investigation because of the magnitude of the event.
He said there is “no indication right now,” of illegal activity associated with the incident.
“Until we start removing debris, we can’t know what caused the fire,” Godwin said.
The fire is thought to be the most deadly ever in Nelson County, and one of the most deadly in Kentucky.
The previous most deadly fire in this county was on Dec. 12, 1957 when five lost their lives at the Nelson County Infirmary. The fire is the most catastrophic in Kentucky since 167 adults and teen-agers, plus two unborn fetuses lost their lives in 1977 at the Beverly Hills Supper Club.
Tom Dekle can be reached at 348-9003 Ext. 118 or by e-mail at [email protected].
That's more than devastating. It happened right across town. It's like one of the worst house fires in the history of Kentucky. 🙁