LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A former volunteer firefighter has died following a house fire in Spencer County.
According to the Taylor-Spencer County Fire Protection District, crews were called out to the 1000 block of Bloomfield Road around 1:10 a.m. Saturday after reports of eight people trapped inside.
When crews arrived several minutes later, they confirmed one person was still inside with heavy fire and smoke emitting from the home.
Firefighters got inside and found a teen, later identified as 18-year-old James Nation, deceased.
Family members told WHAS11 News that James was a recent graduate of Spencer County High School and previously a volunteer firefighter at the department.
Taylorsville Fire Chief Nathan Nation was a part of training James as a local volunteer firefighter.
Chief Nation described James as "someone who's just getting going in life."
"I can remember an event we had out at the high school when he was a senior last year," he said. "You could just tell he had ambitions, graduating high school which he did, and moving onto a career as a mechanic."
James was also employed at AutoZone.
"He really enjoyed mechanical work and aspired to have a successful career as a mechanic," Chief Nation said.
He says there's been an outpouring of support.
"It's been a hard day for our community, for our fire department," Chief Nation said. "We're a growing community, but we're still a small community where everyone rallies around and tries to help out."
Chief Nation says this tragedy serves as a reminder to have an escape plan, make sure your smoke detectors are working property and ensure each room in your home has two escapes.
There were no other reported injuries.
The cause of Nation’s death is pending autopsy.
Authorities are working to determine the cause of the fire.
A GoFundMe has been started to help the family through this difficult time.
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