A FIRE ON MACEY AVENUE left a three-story multi-family structure in total ruins early Tuesday morning. One man was killed, but there were no other injuries. Versailles Fire Chief T.A. Rankin, in firefighting gear, works with an investigator from the State Fire Marshal’s Office a few hours after the fire was extinguished. (Photo by Scott White)
Tragedy struck Versailles in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Jan. 20, when a fire fully gutted an eight-unit, three-story multi-family building on Macey Avenue. Woodford County Coroner Penny Baker has yet to identify the victim, though it is known that the victim was an adult male.
According to the Woodford County Emergency Management Agency (WCEMA), around a dozen people were evacuated, with no one suffering any injuries. The displaced were all adults; no children were in the building. The fire also totaled three vehicles in the adjoining parking area.
The Woodford Foundation and American Red Cross are providing support to the victims, including emergency housing, food and clothing.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, and the Versailles Fire Department (VFD) is assisting the state fire marshal with its investigation into the cause.
Versailles Fire Chief T.A. Rankin, in information told to the Versailles City Council on Jan. 20 and in an interview with the Sun, along with a press release, said the dispatch of a fire on Macey Avenue came in at 2:10 a.m., and the report from the first arriving vehicle was that a three-story multi-family residential structure was fully engulfed in flames, with a serious risk to a larger multi-family residential structure that housed significantly more residents. And, with an outdoor temperature of 7 degrees, this posed a threat of the water used to fight the fire freezing.
Rankin said a total of 16 vehicles and approximately 40 first responders fought the fire, rescued victims and dealt with the aftermath. This included full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters. Involved agencies were: VFD, WCEMA, Woodford County Fire Department, Woodford County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Versailles Police Department, Woodford County 911 and Woodford County Animal Control Office.
Rankin said that while the Versailles Public Works Department and Woodford County Road Department are generally “not first responders, they were this morning by pouring salt and making sure the roads and sidewalks weren’t icing up, which made things much safer for us.”
It took four hours of difficult, dangerous, skilled firefighting to extinguish the fire.
Woodford County EMS Director Freeman Bailey said in a brief interview, “It was a miracle anyone got out. It is so sad one person lost their life.”
“We gave everything we had. We were successful in our mission,” Rankin said.
“This kind of fire, which we train thousands of hours for, is devastating (to first responders),” he added. “We are really asking the community for prayers for the person’s family who died, the victims and the responders.”
For those who wish to contribute funds to aid the displaced, go to woodfordcountyfoundation.org or the Versailles Fire Department’s Facebook page.
Jan. 17 house fire
The VFD was called to two house fires in the last week. In addition to the one on Macey Avenue, the department fought another one on Saturday, Jan, 17.
The VFD responded to a house fire on Pandy Drive. The owner of the home is Brian Arnett, a full-time member of the Georgetown Fire Department and apart-time VFD firefighter. Though the home sustained significant damage, it was not a total loss.
VFD Deputy Fire Chief Brandon Brown said there were no injuries, except to the family dog, Cowboy, who was injured but has since been released from a veterinary hospital.
Rankin added that the family should be able to return to their home next week. Donations to the family to help cover uninsured losses and other unexpected expenses can be made on the VFD’s Facebook page.