— 6 Galveston Daily News, TX. “Six children who died in blaze had been left…” 7-5-1989, A2.

— 6 Kleber, John E. The Encyclopedia of Louisville. Univ. Press of Kentucky, 2001, p. 548.

— 6 The Robesonian, Lumberton, NC. “6 children perish in Louisville house fire.” 7-5-1989, A6

Narrative Information

Kleber: “Residence, 3834 River Park Dr., July 4, 1989.

“Six children perished in this blaze. Louisville Gas & Electric Co. had shut off power to the house the month before, and it is believed candles caused the fire, although the cause was never established definitively. Firefighters found the children alone in the house, behind locked doors. Double-keyed deadbolt locks on all the doors prevented the children’s escape. Investigators found one non-working smoke detector in the charred debris.” (Kleber, John E. The Encyclopedia of Louisville. University Press of Kentucky, 2001, p. 548.)

July 5: “A fire killed six children left alone at home early Tuesday [July 4], and investigators said the deaths might have been prevented had there been batteries in a smoke detector apparently issued by the Fire Department.

“The six cousins — two 9-year-olds, three 10-year-olds and a 14-year-old — were found dead in three bedrooms and in the kitchen, officials said. “It’s hard to say if they tried to get out,” said Fire Capt. Mike Brown.

“The blaze broke out in a front room about 3:30 a.m. at the two-story frame house, and the home

was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, officials said. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

“Chuck Randall, a district manager at Louisville Gas & Electric Co., said the electricity had been disconnected for an undetermined amount of time before the fire. Neighbors said the family had been using candles for light.

“Maj. Dayle Fortney, chief arson investigator, said a smoke detector without batteries was found

on a mantle inside the home and looked like the type given out by the Fire Department as part of a fire safety program four years ago. ‘It’s been my experience that if people have smoke detectors in their house, they do what they are supposed to and people get out,’ he said. Brown-said the department ‘provided a smoke detector at that residence in 1985…and also checked an existing detector.’

“The identities of the children were not immediately released..

“Fortney said one parent, apparently a woman who lived at the home, arrived shortly after the fire began.” (Galveston Daily News, TX. “Six children who died in blaze had been left alone in house.” 7-5-1989, p. A2.)

July 5: “Louisville, Ky. (AP) — Investigators of an early-morning house fire that killed six unattended children suspect a candle used to light the house may have caused the city’s deadliest blaze in 26 years. The victims ranged from age 9 to 14, said Capt. Mike Brown of the Louisville Fire Department. No adults were home when the fire started Tuesday, he said.

“The fire was accidental and started in a couch in a front room, said Capt. Henry Ott, supervisor of the arson unit. It may have been caused by a candle or a smoldering cigarette, he said.

“Electricity had been shut off because of overdue bills and candles apparently were being used to light the house, Ott said. Chuck Randall, manager of district operations for Louisville Gas & Electric Co., said the electricity had been disconnected for an undetermined amount of time….

“….Assistant Jefferson County Coroner Sue Wurst identified the victims as Shantee Watkins, 14; his cousin, Angie Watkins, 9; her brother, Dion Watkins, 9; Latrice Gaither, 10; her brother, Don Juan Gaither, 12; and a cousin of the Gaithers, Ginger Anderson, 10. Autopsies showed all died of smoke inhalation, Wurst said.

“Four of the children were found in separate bedrooms and the two 10- year-olds were found in the kitchen near the back door, which was locked with a deadbolt that could be opened only with a key, officials said.

“The fire broke out about 3:30 a.m. The two-story frame house was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived and nothing could be done to save the children, Brown said.

“An uncle of three of the children tried to get inside the house and was jailed after scuffling with a police officer who tried to restrain him.

“A woman, apparently a parent who lived at the home, arrived shortly after the fire began. “She was in shock, running up and down the street screaming, M Fortney said.” (The Robesonian, Lumberton, NC. “6 children perish in Louisville house fire.” 7-5-1989, p. A6.)

Sources

Galveston Daily News, TX. “Six children who died in blaze had been left alone in house.” 7-5-1989, p. A2. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=110188615&sterm

Kleber, John E. The Encyclopedia of Louisville. University Press of Kentucky, 2001, 988 pages. Partially digitized by Google. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=pXbYITw4ZesC

The Robesonian, Lumberton, NC. “6 children perish in Louisville house fire.” 7-5-1989, p. A6. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=201313965&sterm

1989 — July 4, Home Fire, children, locked in house, River Park Dr., Louisville, KY — 6