CLAY, W.Va. — The residents of Clay took part in a candlelight vigil Tuesday, remembering the lives of of four children who died in a house fire last weekend.
Local religious leaders spoke of the struggles associated with mourning and the importance of unity in front of the crowd outside of the Clay County Courthouse.
“You came tonight because you love,” said Pastor Gary Drake of the Clay First Baptist Church. “You didn’t have to do this. This won’t make you a better person, but it will demonstrate love. Love is the greatest freedom that we have.”
The four children died Saturday evening in a fire at a Main Street home. Two adults and two other children were able to escape the residence.
The children, who were between 6 months old and 8 years old, were part of the state’s foster care program. The children’s names have not been officially released.
According to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, a worker made an in-person visit to the home in December and noted no issues. The department said Monday the house had working smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors.
State Fire Marshal Ken Tyree said on Tuesday’s MetroNews “Talkline” how the home was built contributed to how the fire spread.
Pastor Bret Wiley of the Fairview Baptist Church said it is not unusual to question why such events happen, but he referred to the story of Job, the Biblical figure who trusted God after suffering financial and personal loss.
“Where we normal question God, Job’s first response was to worship God. I’d say worship is always appropriate, and I think it is something most appropriate at times when we do not understand,” he said.
“The truth of the matter is sometimes it’s good to know that there’s not answers lingering out there to find; the Lord Jesus Christ himself is the answer.”
Pastor Kenneth Tanner of Nebo Baptist Church, who gave the vigil’s prayer, said the deaths of the children hit close to him; he has two adopted kids who are 6 and 8 years old.
“People need to turn to God, especially in times like this,” he said. “Who else will we turn to?”
Clay County Assessor Teresa Davis announced two accounts have been set up at the Clay County Bank for paying for the children’s headstones as well as the foster family.