Fire victims identified; fund established for funeral expenses
The family of Alex Snedeker has established a fund at Old National Bank to assist in the funeral expenses of the three victims of the fire that occurred in Jasper early Wednesday morning.
Those wishing to contribute to the fund can stop by any Old National Bank location and make a donation in care of Alex Snedeker, Linsey Parsley, and Robert Parsley.
Previously
The Dubois County Coroner released the names of the victims of today’s fatal fire in Jasper.
Killed in the fire were 20-year-old Linsey Parsley, her son, 3-year-old Robert Parsley, and her live-in friend, 20-year-old Alex Snedeker.
All three victims were found near a window in a room of the apartment. The adults were pronounced dead at the scene and Robert was taken by ambulance to Memorial Hospital. He was later pronounced dead.
The official causes of death have not been released but according to the coroner’s office, a pathologist will be issuing a determination on that later this evening.
According to County Coroner Bob Veatch, preliminary autopsy results indicate that the three victims died of asphyxia due to soot inhalation. A final determination will be released pending toxicology and microscopic exams.
Previously
The Jasper Fire Department is reporting three fatalities in a fire on Third Avenue that occurred Wednesday morning.
Authorities have not released the identities of the two adults and 3-year-old juvenile who perished in the fire in an upstairs apartment at 413 Third Avenue.
The fire called in at 4:45 a.m. was located south of the Schnitzelbank. When firefighters arrived, they found the upstairs apartment was on fire but due to the heat and flames, they were unable to enter the apartment.
The occupants living on the first floor were able to vacate the house due to a passerby, Chris Bachman, who alerted them of the fire upstairs.
According to Fire Chief Kenny Hochgesang, the fire marshal determined the fire originated in the dryer vent of the upstairs apartment. Hochgesang also reported the batteries were removed from the downstairs smoke detector and the upstairs smoke detectors did not appear to be operational.
Five trucks and 35 firefighters responded to the fire this morning. Jasper Mayor Terry Seitz also came by the scene.
Third Avenue was closed from Church Street to Giesler Road until about 8 a.m. while the department remained on scene.
Jasper Police Department and Dubois County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene.
The last fatal fire in Jasper occurred on January 11, 2010 at 2423 Newton Street. The fire took the lives of an elderly couple, Wallace and Barbara Wilms, who lived in the upstairs apartment at the address. The official cause of the fire was listed as “improper use of smoking materials.”
Prior to that, the last fatal fire in Jasper was in 1977.
“We had at least a dozen of our younger firefighters at this fire,” Hochgesang said. “This was their first fatality and for several this was the first fire they were actively able to take part in in regards to a structure fire.”
A critical incident debriefing was conducted with the firefighters today. Hochgesang said about 18 firefighters attended the session today and they were joined by responding Jasper Police Department officers and Dubois County Sheriff’s deputies.
Jasper Mayor Terry Seitz issued a statement regarding the tragic fire this morning.
Early this morning our community suffered the tragic loss of three residents in a fatal fire, including a young child. During times like this – when words are hard to come by – we need to rely on the simple message of saying thank you to the dozens of people who took action today.
While mourning the lives of the victims we must be extraordinarily grateful for a private citizen, Chris Bachman, who noticed the fire, called 9-1-1 and knocked on the door awakening those living in the lower level of the house.
Our deepest thanks goes out to the Jasper Fire Department, the Jasper Police Department, the Dubois County Sheriff’s Department, EMS, Memorial Hospital staff, Coroner’s office and the communications officers who dispatched them; for all those who made valiant attempts to rescue the occupants even as debris started to fall around them; for the firefighters who battled cold conditions to control the blaze; and finally, for those who have had their lives forever changed by what they did today in the line of duty.
We extend the sympathy of the community to the families of those who lost their lives and, as Mayor, I ask that on Thanksgiving Day you pause for a moment of silence in their memory. In closing, I encourage you to include prayers for all those who responded to help.
