WCHS Eyewitness News Home Charleston Eyewitness Newsroom Charleston Storm Team Weather Sports News TV Program Schedule Community Mobile: Smartphone,Tablet and SMS text Get Connected SMS Text Facebook Twitter See-It,Shoot-It RSS News Feed Email List Tumblr


FATAL FIRE
Four Victims Identified In Calhoun Fire; Cause Undetermined

Reported by: Send eMail Leslie Rubin
Web Producer: Leslie Rubin
Also Contributing: Dan Matics
Reported: Mar. 14, 2013 10:48 PM EDT
Updated: Mar. 15, 2013 11:44 PM EDT

EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO
C L I C K   T O   P L A Y
Chloe , Calhoun County , West Virginia

Heartbreak struck the small community of Chloe in Calhoun County, as a fire ripped through a home early Thursday morning, killing a woman and her three grandchildren.

The victims have been identified as Ryan Jackson, 7, Patricia Jackson, 6, and Aryanna Jackson, 5. Their grandmother, Darlene Gooslin, 57, was also killed.

"We heard the firetrucks go up," said Verla Longfellow, who works at the community grocery store. "We knew, evidently, there was a fire or something was wrong, and then, you know, it soon come down out of the holler that their home was on fire, and that's how we knew."

Painful pictures only begin to tell the nightmare that unfolded early Thursday morning.

"It's an awful thing. It's been a real sad morning," she said.

Sorrow swept through, touching everyone that knew the family who lived in the home. Friends said Gooslin took the responsibility of raising her three grandchildren.

"They were very, very smart. For their age, very, very smart," said Longfellow.

Longfellow said the family were more than customers to her at the Stinson Grocery, they were her friends.

"Oh, I just said 'praise God.' He's our only answer. All I could do is pray for them," she said.

The children's father, Benjamin Jackson, and his brother David were also in the home. Both were severely burned and in critical condition. Fire investigators said a smoke alarm could have made all the difference.

"I don't know why, because smoke detectors are cheap and they are relatively easy to install," said Assistant State Fire Marshal Mark Lambert.

Longfellow said she is turning to her faith to get through the tragedy.

"We just have a lot of faith in God and keep on going," she said. "That's our answer. Have faith in him and he'll walk us through."

The state fire marshal's office is investigating, but said a cause has not been determined.



MORE NEWS FROM EYEWITNESS NEWS
BARBOURSVILLE ARSON
Second Man Arrested In Connection With Arson Investigation
Eyewitness News Photo
May. 24, 2013 4:48 PM EDT
Police have arrested a second suspect in connection ...
Full News Story and Video

FROST ADVISORY
Frost Advisory Issued For Number Of Counties In Eyewitness Viewing Area
Eyewitness News Photo
May. 24, 2013 4:40 PM EDT
Area residents might want to keep an eye on their plants ...
Full News Story

BOIL WATER ADVISORY
Boil Water Advisories Issued in Four Counties
Eyewitness News Photo
May. 24, 2013 4:20 PM EDT
Boil water advisories have been issued in Kanawha, ...
Full News Story



News Deputies Searching For Shooting Suspect In Lawrence County
May. 24, 2013 4:26 PM EDT
News Hunters Kill Most Turkeys During Spring Gobbler Season Since 2003
May. 24, 2013 3:50 PM EDT
News WV Joins Fight On EPA Greenhouse Gas Rules
May. 24, 2013 3:23 PM EDT
News Protesters Arrested At Alpha Natural Resources Headquarters In Va.
May. 24, 2013 3:18 PM EDT
News U.S. 60 In Cedar Grove Reopens After Coal Truck, Car Wreck
May. 24, 2013 3:40 PM EDT
News Convicted Felon Charged With Having Guns and Drugs Waives Preliminary Hearing
May. 24, 2013 2:07 PM EDT
News Pike County Trooper Named Detective Of The Year
May. 24, 2013 2:00 PM EDT
News Memorial Day Nears With Rising Gas Prices
May. 24, 2013 1:57 PM EDT
News Cabell County Woman Pleads No Contest In Fatal Accident
May. 24, 2013 12:47 PM EDT
News Boyd County Man Pleads Not Guilty In Baby's Death
May. 24, 2013 12:25 PM EDT
News Man Accused Of Shooting Gallipolis Officer Ruled Competent To Stand Trial
May. 24, 2013 12:35 PM EDT
News Putnam County Community Members Plan To Clean Up Cemetery
May. 24, 2013 12:50 PM EDT
News Authorities Arrest Two In Fayette County On Drug Charges
May. 24, 2013 11:37 AM EDT
News Vandalia Offers Appalachian Music, Food At Capitol This Weekend
May. 24, 2013 12:52 PM EDT
News Smith Street Reopens After Crash Into Pole During Reported Robbery Attempt
May. 24, 2013 3:40 PM EDT
News Live On Levee Concert Schedule Kicks Off Tonight At Haddad Park In Charleston
May. 24, 2013 12:53 PM EDT
News Officials Making Plans For Expected Traffic Increase For Boy Scout Jamboree
May. 24, 2013 8:55 AM EDT
News Flags To Be Retired At WV Veterans Cemetery
May. 24, 2013 8:39 AM EDT
News Good Samaritan Robbed In His Own Home
May. 24, 2013 12:55 PM EDT
News Event At Power Park Helps To Fund Purchase Of Bullet-Resistant Vests
May. 23, 2013 10:52 PM EDT
News Boy Scouts Approve Plan To Accept Openly Gay Boys
May. 23, 2013 11:56 PM EDT
News WV Turnpike Reopens After Tractor-Trailer Collision
May. 23, 2013 8:28 PM EDT
News Six Participants Graduate From Drug Court
May. 23, 2013 10:31 PM EDT
News Man Pleads In Murder, Kidnapping Case
May. 23, 2013 10:26 PM EDT
News Outdoor Warning Sirens Expanding In Kanawha County
May. 23, 2013 11:58 PM EDT
News Man Arrested After St. Albans Chase
May. 23, 2013 11:59 PM EDT
News Woman Arrested After Wreck In Huntington
May. 24, 2013 4:28 AM EDT
News ARTS Climbs The Corporate Ladder With Its Latest Production
May. 23, 2013 5:02 PM EDT
News Number Of Appalachian Power Customers Without Power Dwindles
May. 23, 2013 4:00 PM EDT
News New York Man Sentenced For Huntington Shooting
May. 23, 2013 10:27 PM EDT


Advertise on WCHS-TV Online

West Virginia News
Spring turkey kills increase 32 percent in W.Va.

Hunters killed nearly 11,000 bearded turkeys in West Virginia during the recent four-week spring season.
Full Story

Kentucky News
Graham named chairman of House Education Committee

Democratic state Rep. Derrick Graham has been named chairman of the House Education Committee.
Full Story

Ohio News
Toxic algae warnings posted at western Ohio lake

Advisories are back up at Ohio's largest inland lake warning some visitors to stay out of the water because of high levels of toxic algae.
Full Story

Fugitive Files
Wanted: May. 21, 2013 You Can Help!
Fugitive Fugitive Fugitive Seen them? Call 888-720-TIPS
Details about these Fugitives

Behind The Kitchen Door
May 23, 2013
China One makes the list. Find out who has violations and who gets the Clean Kitchen Award!
Story and Video

2013 NEWS: JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | CURRENT
2012 NEWS: JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC







Fire!Fire!

Fugitive Files Tuesdays at 6 PM on Eyewitness News

West Virginia Wildlife Wednesdays at 6 PM on Eyewitness News

Newscast Scripts

ABC News web site





How To Contact WCHS-TV8 | Privacy Policy | FCC Public File | Terms and Conditions | DMCA Policy | Frequently Asked Questions

Home | Eyewitness News Newsroom | Storm Team Weather | Eyewitness Sports | Schedules

Send Mail Send email to news@wchstv.com for information or comments concerning WCHS-TV Eyewitness News.

Copyright ©2013, WCHS-TV8. Portions are
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed.