Three children killed in Christmas Eve fire in Jackson County

JACKSON COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Three children are dead and four other people are hospitalized after a devastating overnight house fire in Jackson County on Christmas Eve.

Officials say the Sand Gap Volunteer Fire Department was called to a burning home on Upper Dry Fork Road in McKee just before midnight. When crews arrived, the home was already fully involved.

Kentucky State Police say three children — a 7-month-old, a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old — were killed in the fire.

A 4-year-old child was taken to UK Hospital and later transferred to a hospital in Ohio for additional treatment.

Police say three adults were also injured in the fire. They are identified as 23-year-old Tyler Monst, 22-year-old Morgan Johnson and 76-year-old Florence Johnson. All three were taken to UK Hospital for treatment.

McKee Police Chief Zachary Bryant says the fire has deeply affected the community, especially on a holiday meant to bring families together.

“You know Christmas is meant for joy and happiness and obviously the community is not experiencing that this year,” Bryant said. “It’s a sad time in the community, sad time for first responders and obviously for the family.”

Neighbor Carl Fox says he heard the emergency call come across his scanner and soon realized the fire was close to home.

“I didn’t know exactly where it was at,” Fox said. “My two grandchildren, they could hear all of them screaming over there.”

Fox says he has known the family for most of his life and describes what happened as a heartbreaking situation for everyone involved.

Officials in Jackson County say the cause of the fire remains under investigation.