Victims in Lexington fire were daughter, grandchildren of first-arriving Fire Dept Officer

Posted on May 4, 2020

LEXINGTON – The Lexington Fire Department shared more devastating information regarding the triple fatal fire that claimed the life of a family Saturday morning.

In a Facebook post Sunday, the department shared “We are deeply saddened that all three occupants, a mother and her two young children along with their pets, did not survive. Compounding the heart wrench – the victims, Hillery, Emerlyn, and Sawyer were the daughter and grandchildren of the first-arriving Lexington Fire Department Officer, Lieutenant Joe Williams, and his wife Nickey, a passionate nurse on the frontline of the COVID-19 response. Hillery was also a co-worker to many of our firefighters.”

After an investigation led by McLean County Coroner, the cause of death for all three has been reported as carbon monoxide intoxication due to inhalation of smoke and soot.

The remainder of the investigation regarding the cause of the fire is underway by the Illinois State Fire Marshal‘s office, MABAS 41 Fire Investigation Team, and McLean County Sheriff’s Office

Lexington Fire Department said they are focusing on the well-being of the family of the deceased and of the firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and METCOM 911 telecommunicators involved.

The department also expressed heartfelt gratitude from community partners who have offered support during the difficult time.

WJBC News can be reached at [email protected]

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