News
Two Dead Following Point Pleasant House Fire
By: Associated Press, WOUB Contributing Writer
Posted on:
UPDATE 1/21/14 @ 11:35 a.m. A woman and her 11-year-old brother have died from injuries suffered in a house fire in Point Pleasant.
The acting director of the West Virginia Fire Marshal's Fire Investigation Division, Mark Lambert, says 26-year-old Tiffany Grant died Monday night. Her brother, Braxton Smith, died Sunday.
Their parents and 14-year-old brother were injured in the fire.
The fire occurred Saturday morning at the family's house. The cause hasn't been determined.
UPDATE:
One of the children from Saturday morning's fire in Point Pleasant has died.
Inez Whitt, sister of Bill Smith, says her nephew Braxton, 11, has died as a result of burns from Saturday's house fire that destroyed the Smith's home.
Whitt also says her other nephew Tre's, 14, status has been changed to 100% of his body being burned. She says that procedures were being done this morning to try and scrape off the burned skin.
Whitt says there are not any funeral arrangements just yet.
At this time, Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus does not have any information to release.
A special benefit fund is set up to help the Smith family get back on their feet after the fire.
People can now make donations to the "Billy and LaTanya Smith Benefit Fund" at any People's Bank location.
100% of the money will go toward their recovery.
This article contributed by WSAZ.com
Inez Whitt stands just steps from her brother's destroyed home.
"Smoke up in the air like you wouldn't believe," Whitt said.
Whitt said her brother, Bill Smith, and his family were trapped by a fire and trying to get out.
She said Smith's children, Braxton, 11, Tre, 14, and their daughter Tiffany, were all severely burned on 80% to 100% of their bodies.
They were all airlifted to Cabell Huntington Hospital.
"The youngest one is burned 100 percent," Whitt said. "They say if he makes it through this, if he lives through this, then chances are he'll probably have to get his legs amputated."
Whitt said Smith and his wife, LaTanya, faced another challenge.
The fire was moving through the house and they were upstairs.
They had to escape through a window."If they hadn't gotten that air conditioner out, they would've burned up in that fire too," Whitt said. "Billy just did get it out in the nick of time and they jumped out and LaTanya broke her wrist."
Point Pleasant's fire chief said it took a number of crews to put out the fire.
"We had very heavy fire coming out of the front and side of the house," said Point Pleasant Fire Chief, Jeremy Bryant.
Bryant said it was also hard seeing the family outside of their home, hurt and waiting for help.
"You see these young children grow up playing sports and doing things in the community and it is tough," said Bryant.
As she held back tears, Whitt said she hopes everyone will be okay."It's going to be alright, they're going to pull through this," said Whitt.
But the smoke rising from the roof, is an all-too-soon reminder of the devastation left behind.
The Point Pleasant community is already rallying behind the Smiths and their children.
A special benefit fund has already been set up to help the Smith family get back on their feet after this devastating fire.
People can now make donations to the "Billy and LaTanya Smith Benefit Fund" at any People's Bank location.
100% of the money will go toward their recovery.