The community of Pratt is in mourning after learning four young children have died in a house fire on Thursday. The mother of the children, Charee Eggleston, is in the hospital and in critical condition.
Emergency crews first responded to the home at Austin and 2nd around 9 a.m. The fire department and police arrived and found the home engulfed in flames. Crews were able to get five people out of the home, the mother and her four children. They were in the basement. Only the mother survived.
“The total of five persons were recovered from the structure and transported to area hospitals,” said Detective Jeff Ward, Pratt Police Department. “Four of those recovered, who happen to be children, have all since succumb to their injuries.”
The cause of the fire is unknown. The Kansas State Fire Marshal is leading the investigation. Authorities said they are just starting the investigation, and they do not have a time frame yet for when they will be able to release more details.
On Friday, the family answered questions from reporters and talked about Charee and the children. The oldest is Reece, 4, Timmy, 2, River, 1, and Harley is 3 months.
Kristina Morris, Charee’s sister, was in the house when the fire broke out. She awoke to smoke and someone pounding on the door. She tried to get to her sister and her children.
“Those babies didn’t deserve any of that. We were trying so hard to get down there (basement),” she said.
As for how the family is coping, they said they are taking it one step at a time. Right now, they are focusing on the memories.
“It is going to be remembering when it was one big happy family because it is never going to be the same. There is never going to be those babies again,” said Amy Coates, Charee’s aunt.
A Gofundme account has been set up to help pay for funeral costs and hospital bills. You can find the page here.
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