Man who works nearby ‘tried to kick the door in’ but couldn’t reach victims [Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.]

Aug. 28--One of the first people to reach the West Parrish Avenue home where two children, their mother and their grandfather tragically died in a Friday morning fire was Ricky Fuqua, who works about a block away at the Valvoline oil change store on Bosley Road.

"We looked over there and saw smoke pouring out," Fuqua said. "I dialed 911 and handed the phone to my manager. We ran over, and we started busting out windows. They were busting out anyway."

Fuqua said he tried to enter the house by the front door, but it was locked. "I tried to kick the door in, but there was no kicking that door in," he said.

When Fuqua ran around to the back of the house, he said he found the rear entry door on fire. He and a companion said they heard a loud boom from inside the house and then a smaller boom when an outdoor gas grill on the back deck exploded.

"That really got the back of the house going," Fuqua said.

Within minutes of his arrival, the first units from the Owensboro Fire Department began arriving, Fuqua said.

Wendy Devine, 35, Ryan Devine, 2, Jerry Devine, 3, and Jerry Marsh, whose age wasn't immediately available, died as a result of the fire, Daviess County Corner Bob Howe said.

The house appeared to have an enclosed back porch that was used for living space. The exterior of the southeast corner of the house was blackened and charred, and the interior of the rear of the house was damaged.

Nearly two hours after the fire was reported at 8:56 a.m., an ambulance backed up to the rear of the house. As firefighters shielded the scene with sheets of yellow plastic, at least one of the victims was removed from the house and loaded into the ambulance. When that ambulance left, another took its place and another victim was removed.

Daviess County Deputy Coroner Jack Thayer said the first victim to be removed was Jerry Devine, who was later pronounced dead at Owensboro Medical Health System.

Wendy Devine and Jonathan Ryan Devine were removed later, in that order. Howe said Marsh, who used a wheelchair, died in a front bedroom of the house.

His body was removed last.

Wendy Devine was found in the rear of the house in the living room, Howe said.

Ryan Devine was found in a baby swing in a front living room, OFD Battalion Chief Steve Leonard said.

Thayer said all four victims died of smoke inhalation. Wendy Devine was closest to the flames, he said, but did not suffer burns.

Howe said Wendy Devine's husband and the father of the two boys, Ryan E. Devine, left the home at 7:45 a.m. to go to work for the lawn care business he and his wife own. His father, Robert Devine, was among the first to see the smoke from the fire.

Heath Devine, an Owensboro firefighter and Ryan E. Devine's brother, was at the scene of the fire. Heath Devine was seen being consoled by other firefighters. He said he would rather not comment.

Steven James of Owensboro came to the scene to check on the Devine family. He said he was a friend of Wendy Devine from the time they both attended Apollo High School in the early 1990s. He said he spoke to her as recently as this month on Facebook.

"She was Wendy Marsh in high school," James said. "My sister called me and told me their house was on fire. She was a great person, very positive and a great friend. She always had a smile on her face. She was taking care of her father, and they owned a lawn care business."

According to a wedding announcement published in the Messenger-Inquirer on Sept. 23, 2007, Wendy Ann Marsh and Ryan Elliott Devine were married Sept. 15, 2007, at St. John United Methodist Church, Owensboro. She was the daughter of Jerry and Mary Ann Marsh of Owensboro. Mary Ann Marsh died in April 2006.

Wendy Marsh organized Earth Day Jam concerts in 1996 and 1997 at English Park.

Brad Devine, Ryan E. Devine's brother, said late Friday afternoon that his brother is "coping the best he can, with a lot of family support. Those boys meant a lot to him. They were his whole world. This is just a bad deal."

Evelyn McCarty, emergency services program director with the Big Rivers Chapter of the American Red Cross, and two Red Cross volunteers were at the scene for two hours offering emotional support for Ryan E. Devine and his extended family.

"We're on standby if Ryan needs food, housing and clothing," McCarty said. "The main thing is the mental health counseling. He's got a good, close family, but we'll be checking in with him.

"This is a tragic thing."

Reporter Rich Suwanski contributed to this article.

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