PULASKI COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — A woman has died in a fire in Pulaski County.
The Pulaski County coroner says the fire happened Thursday morning at a home on Antioch Road in Burnside. He says 76-year-old Jewell Lester was killed.
Lester lived there with her daughter, grandson, and his wife and kids. Two dogs were also killed in the fire.
Lester's grandson, Tommy New, was in the basement fixing a broken water line when he heard shouting.
"And all the sudden I heard someone yell, it was my wife. She said something I couldn't understand," said New. "I went out that hole down there underneath the stairs and I saw fire."
Volunteer firefighters from multiple agencies responded to the fire.
"We were met with heavy fire coming out the right side of the house," explained Burnside Fire chief James Martin. "It’s hard, especially on the holidays. Don’t wanna see anyone lose anything."
According to New, family members and neighbors busted windows in an attempt to get Lester out of the home. They were unsuccessful.
"They did the best they could and we did too, and it was her time, I guess," said neighbor Heather Molden.
In a town of less than one thousand people, Molden says everyone knew Lester.
"She was just one of the kindest, she loved to talk to people, always done up, always beautiful," explained Molden.
Officials have not released a cause for the fire, but family members believe it began from a heater.
"I just wish it wouldn’t have happened like this," said New.
The Red Cross is assisting the family with immediate needs, and neighbors have created a GoFundMe to offer additional support: https://angelinkweb.page.link.
