MARYVILLE, Tenn.-- Fire swept a two-story house in a wooded hollow in the Smokies foothills, killing four children.
The blaze broke out before dawn near Friendsville, not far from Knoxville's airport, where the temperature was recorded at 22 degrees.
Blount County Sheriff James Berrong says the fire appears to have begun in an upstairs bedroom. Berrong calls it "an accident and a tragedy."
While officials haven't released names of the victims, a fund for three survivors has been set up with donations being requested for the Beuty family.
A man, a woman and a three-year-old boy who all slept on the ground floor were able to escape. Girls ages seven and 14 and boys ages ten and 12 perished on the second floor.
Authorities say the man had just been released from a hospital where he was treated for pneumonia. He was readmitted after the fire.
Pam Pointon reported the fire to 911. She lives across the street and said she got up to go to work and noticed her front window had a "big red glow to it."
Pointon says she went on to work at a high school cafeteria, but she cried all morning.
Donations for the family can be made to the Red Cross. Call 865-983-0821.
Their needs are:
The toddler boy wears size 4 t-shirts and pants, and a size 9 child's shoe. He uses pull-up training pants. All items must be 100% cotton because he has eczema. He also needs baby eczema cream, and sodium hydroxide lye soap. The family must wash his clothing in Gain "touch of softness" detergent.
The mother wears size XXX pants and shirts, and size 11 shoes.
The father has to wear overalls because he requires an insulin pump. The overalls need to be size 48 waist by 32 length. He wears size XXX shirts and size 12 shoes.
Republished with permission of WBIR-TV.
