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Victims in Clay fire were foster children; cause of blaze undetermined but not suspicious

CLAY, W.Va. — A family devastated by a fatal fire late Saturday night in Clay apparently had working smoke detectors and an escape plan but not everyone was able to get out safely.

The blaze at a house on Main Street claimed the lives of four young foster children. The last body was pulled from the rubble Sunday afternoon. Two adults and two other children survived the blaze.

Deputy State Fire Marshal Jason Baltic said it appears one of the victims was trying to follow the family’s fire escape plan but didn’t make it.

“More than likely they were disoriented by the smoke. They did have an escape plan. The unfortunate thing is when you do that and you are talking about young children, when it really comes down to it the fear factor comes into play,” Baltic said.

The four children who died were under the care of the state Department of Health and Human Resources’ Bureau for Children and Families. They were believed to be between the ages of six months and 8 years.

“Today was a tragic event for four young foster children,” said Commissioner Linda Watts. “We are truly saddened by the loss experienced.”

Gov. Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice said they were devastated by the reports of the tragedy.

“We are absolutely devastated and heartbroken after finding out about this horrific fire earlier today that claimed the lives of four of our beautiful West Virginia children in Clay County,” Gov. Justice said. “Please join us as we pray for these young people and their families. It absolutely breaks our hearts that these children also had to endure the hardship of becoming foster children. This is an absolute tragedy.”

Baltic said the cause of the blaze is currently undetermined but there’s no reason to believe it was arson.

“As of now I have no suspicions at all that this was an intentionally set fire. Right now, it appears this was just a sad accident,” Baltic said.

The blaze was first reported at a few minutes after 11 p.m. Saturday. Baltic said at least some of the family was awake and smelled smoke.

“That started everybody trying to find where the smoke was coming from,” he said. “With this home being such an older home that it is–from all indications from the statements we took this fire was very fast moving and once it got moving it really took off. The ones that got out were lucky they got out when they did.”

Baltic said the two adults, the foster parents, were released from Charleston Area Medical Center not long after the fire. He wasn’t sure about the two children. He said none of the four were seriously injured. One of them was believed to be an older teenager, the brother of the foster father. The other a two-year-old child.

Baltic praised volunteer fire crews from Clay and Lizemores and EMS squads for their work at the scene.

“I’ve seen a few (bad fires) but not this close to me,” Owen Frye, an EMT for Lizemores Ambulance Service, said. “I knew the family, all the children and the parents. This is pretty much the worst fire I have been on.”

The names of the victims have not been released. The bodies were sent to the state Medical Examiner’s Office.

“The kids were just adorable,” Frye said. “Despite their situation of being all foster children, they were just full of life. What they have been through didn’t show. They were full of life and just kids. Kids are really resilient and they proved that every day.”

Baltic said any deadly fire is tragic especially ones involving children.

“We do our job the best we can. We put everything else in the back of our minds,” he said.

Jeff Jenkins contributed to this story. 





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