SAND GAP, Ky. (LEX 18) — Three young children died in a house fire that tore through a home on Upper Dry Fork Road in McKee, just before midnight Tuesday.
Kentucky State Police said that a 7-month-old, a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old were pronounced dead at the scene. A fourth child, 4 years old, was airlifted for emergency treatment and later transferred to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Ohio. Three adults were also injured and taken to UK Hospital.
McKee Police Chief Zachary Bryant said the fire was already fully involved when help arrived.
"I responded off duty and was the first on scene. When I came up on the home, it was fully involved in flames. Once the fire department got there, I assisted them with trying to extinguish the fire best we could," Bryant said.
As the community prepared for Christmas, that joy quickly turned to heartbreak.
"Christmas is meant for joy and happiness. Obviously this community is not experiencing that this year," Bryant said.
Neighbors said the loss has shaken Jackson County to its core.
"It's a tragedy. Especially at Christmas time," neighbor Wayne Carpenter said. "This community will come together and do everything we can to see this family get back on its feet and it's what Jackson County does."
Others describe an overwhelming outpouring of support that lasted through the night.
"I'll be honest with you. I never saw such an outpouring of people in life you know. Our counties a good county. We've got a good group of people, sheriffs, fire departments. They were here all night," neighbor Orvel Hisel said.
A community mourns and leans on one another during what should be a season of celebration.
"My God, just devastating. My first thought went to my family. And it's just so sad. Especially at the time frame of Christmas Eve. It's a pretty sad situation," Hisel said. "I couldn't imagine what that family is facing today with the loss of 3 children."
Further, Father Jim Sichko stated on social media that he will cover all funeral expenses for the three children who died in the fire.
A GoFundMe page has been created and can be found here.
