LEBANON JUNCTION, Ky. — A pregnant mother and two young girls are dead after a house fire in Lebanon Junction on Thursday morning.
According to Bullitt County Coroner Dave Billings, 27-year-old Eryn Toogood, her 6-year-old daughter Haisley Heath and 6-year-old Reagan Maraman were killed in the fire. Toogood was 6 months pregnant. Billings said they confirmed that Reagan is the daughter of Toogood's boyfriend, Billy Maraman. Billy also lived in the house and survived the fire.
"They loved life, they were always so excited to color or play hide and seek, they were so smart, they was improving everyday," Billy said.
Lebanon Junction Fire Department, in assistance with the Southeast Bullitt Fire Department and Shepherdsville Fire, responded to a call of a house fire off Preston Highway around 4 a.m.
When first responders arrived on scene, they say the fire "broke out even more" because of reports of people smashing windows trying to escape. Officials say the fire crews worked for hours to bring the fire under control.
Billings confirmed that all the victims died from smoke inhalation. Chief Adam Heath says the firefighters say the house had no working smoke detectors. He urged everyone who doesn't have a smoke detector to install one.
A community member in Lebanon Junction says a "fog" has come over the people living in the town.
"First thing I asked was which house was it and who it was because in this close-knit community, it's all a big family. Half of this community is kin to each other and if not we went to school together, work together, hang out together," Mayor Larry Dangerfield said. "The minute I knew the house I knew the gentleman. The boy went to school with my grandson."
A local pastor says she went to city hall to go pay her water bill and everyone inside was "somber" and some were crying.
"When you see your own firemen crying because they know the people inside the building -- it's sad," Dangerfield said.
The fire marshal is continuing the investigation.
If you'd like to contribute, there is a GoFundMe for Billy here.
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