9 die in Depoy house fire

Jan. 31--DEPOY -- A fire that investigators believe was started by a heater killed nine members of a Muhlenberg County family early Thursday and sent two other members of the family to Nashville hospitals -- making the fire one of the worst in the region's history.

The fire was reported at 2:01 a.m. at the home of Chad and LaRae Watson, 3734 Motes Road, three miles west of Greenville. Duane Harvey, chief of the Graham Fire Department, said the house was ablaze when he arrived at the scene six minutes after dispatch received the 911 call.

"The house was fully involved, and fire had broken through the front window," Harvey said.

LaRae Watson, 35; Madison Watson, 15; Kaitlyn Watson, 14; Morgan Watson, 13; Emily Watson, 9; Samuel Watson, 8; Raegan Watson, 6; and 4-year-old twins Mark Watson and Nathaniel Watson were killed in the fire. Chad Watson, 36; and Kylie Watson, 11, were flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Monroe Carrell Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt with severe burns.

Chad Watson was in critical but stable condition Thursday afternoon. Trooper Stu Recke, public information officer for the Kentucky State Police Madisonville post, said Kylie Watson was listed in stable condition.

Greenville Mayor Eddie DeArmond said the community was "stunned beyond words" by the deaths.

"This is one of the saddest days in the history of Muhlenberg County," DeArmond said. "You hear about these things in other cities ... and you don't expect one to hit back in rural Kentucky. Unfortunately, this one has. It's a tragedy beyond words.

"The community is numb right now," DeArmond said.

Jason Courtney, who lives near the Watson's home, said he was awakened by a phone call from his mother, telling him something near his home was on fire.

"I went out and saw the father and one daughter burned really bad," Courtney said. "They were yelling, 'They're still in there.' But there was nothing I could do. The house was full of flames.

"I couldn't do nothing," Courtney said. "It crushed me, watching my neighbors and being helpless."

Units from the Graham, Beechmont and Greenville fire departments responded to the blaze, and firefighters from Central City were called to provide additional manpower, Harvey said. The fire was extinguished just after 5 a.m.

"Before the time we got the fire out, we knew we had victims inside," Harvey said. "We had to work it as a fire, but it was a death scene, also."

Eight of the victims were found in what officials believe was the home's master bedroom, Recke said. The ninth person was found 10 to 15 feet away. The bodies were taken to the state medical examiner's office in Madisonville for autopsy and identification.

KSP, the Muhlenberg County Coroner's Office and the Kentucky Fire Marshal's Office are continuing an investigation into the fire.

Chad Watson is a newspaper carrier for the Messenger-Inquirer, a construction worker and children's church director at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Central City.

Jimmy Rager, treasurer at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, said Chad Watson was a Muhlenberg County native, and the family had been attending the church for about a year after moving back to the county from Evansville.

"We all loved the children, and (Chad and LaRae) were good people, too," Rager said. "You couldn't ask for finer children."

In the children's ministry room, Morgan and Kylie Watson had hung hand-drawn family trees, with all the children's names, in the center.

"They wanted to draw their family tree one day at Sunday school," said Pam Burden, who teaches Sunday school and is the wife of the church's minister.

The family would be missed more than people at the church could articulate, Burden said.

"You would have to stay here a week for us to tell you how we felt about them," she said.

Two memorial funds have been set up for the family at Old National Bank and First Kentucky Bank.

"They didn't have insurance of any kind," Rager said. The church is planning a prayer service for the family at 7 p.m. Friday.

Sherri Miller, personnel/board secretary for Muhlenberg County Schools, said the children attended Longest Elementary, North Middle School and Muhlenberg County High School East Campus. Grief counselors were sent to the schools the Watson children attended.

"Our community has suffered a terrible loss due to a house fire this morning," Randy McCarty</person>, superintendent of Muhlenberg County Schools, said in a morning email to teachers and staff.

"This loss has affected staff and students alike. We want all to know that we are here for them and their needs at this time of loss."

Crisis counselors will also hold a 6:30 p.m. session Friday at the Powderly fire training tower for firefighters and emergency workers affected by the fire.

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell said in an email: "Elaine (his wife) and I are hopeful for a speedy recovery for the two victims still alive. And we extend our prayers and condolences to the families of the souls lost in this destructive fire. I will pay close attention to this story as events further develop."

He added, "The entire commonwealth stands beside Muhlenberg County right now, and we'll do whatever we can to help you recover from this horrific loss."

Messenger-Inquirer reporter Rich Suwanski contributed to this report.

James Mayse, 691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com

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