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'I just put it on and knew what to do from there': Former volunteer firefighter helps save person from burning home

Jacolby Barnes and his mother, Connie, were on their way home when they saw the fire.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A woman has died in the hospital more than a month after a serious house fire in Louisville earlier this year.

Multiple agencies, including Fern Creek Fire & EMS, the Louisville Fire Department, Jeffersontown Fire, and Okolona Fire were dispatched to a house fire in the 2000 block of Beargrass Ave around 4 p.m. on Jan. 5.

Firefighters arrived on scene within six minutes to find "heavy fire and smoke" coming from the front of the home, according to Dewayne Hutchens, spokesperson and assistant chief at Fern Creek Fire.

Hutchens said one person was rescued by firefighters and was in critical condition. Another person was rescued from the window by a former volunteer firefighter, and they were not injured. 

On Monday, the Jefferson County Coroner's Office identified the victim as 50-year-old Stacy Lasley. Officials said Lasley died in the hospital from injuries sustained in the fire on Friday, Feb. 2.

Neighbors saw the billowing smoke and jumped into action; they said a mother and daughter were still inside the burning home.

"We heard her talking so I busted out the AC unit, and then helped her get out the window, and busted out the rest of the windows," former volunteer firefighter Jacolby Barnes said.

Barnes went inside the burning home and was able to save one woman. She was not hurt but Lasley was seriously hurt.

Barnes used to volunteer with Shelby County's fire department, and hasn't worked a fire in over three years. But Friday afternoon, he dusted off his gear and boots.

"[I] grabbed it out the house because we got to take it home since I volunteered, and I just put it on and knew what to do from there," he said.

Barnes and his mother, Connie, were on the way home when they saw the fire.

"I think another neighbor was calling while we [were] knocking and banging, trying to get the person out," Connie said.

Within 30 minutes of arrival, officials said 27 firefighters helped bring the fire under control. However, Hutchens said the home suffered "heavy damage." 

A significant amount of fire, smoke and water damage are now left inside.

As for Barnes, he said he's "definitely, definitely going back" to the fire department.

Both him and his mother are just praying their neighbor fully recovers.

"It didn't matter if I knew them or not, it's a life we're trying to save," Connie said.

At this time, it's not clear what caused the fire, but Louisville Fire's Arson Unit is investigating.

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