Child Who Survived Deadly Fire Recuperating

A girl who escaped a western Kentucky house fire that killed her mother and eight siblings is communicating with her hospital nurses.

Pastor Tim Burden said Friday that 11-year-old Kylie Watson has written "I’m hungry" on a dry erase board. Burden says Kylie’s father, Chad Watson, is also making progress at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Eight of Chad Watson’s children and his wife, Nikki, died in a house fire in rural Muhlenberg County early Thursday morning. Investigators say a combustible material made contact with a baseboard heater.

Burden, a close friend of the family and the pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Central City, says the church is holding a candlelight vigil Friday evening.

The father and daughter were both listed in critical condition Friday morning.

Funds have been set up to help the Watson family. One at Old National Bank in care of Calvary Baptist Church Watson Family Fund. And another at the First Kentucky Bank under The Watson Family Memorial Fund.

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