Miracle Gingerich, 6, Steven Gingerich, 5, and Wilma Gingerich, 1, were found unresponsive on Feb. 27 after a fire broke out at their home in the 13000 block of South County Road 300 East.
The children’s mother, Laura Gingerich, called 911 and said there was heavy smoke in the house and that her three children were trapped inside.
According to state police, early evidence indicated Laura was in a downstairs bathroom while the children were in the second-floor room. She smelled smoke and tried to get to her children but the smoke was too thick for her to make it up the stairs. Then she called 911, according to ISP.
Teachers at Pipe Creek Elementary School this week have had to balance their own grief with that of their students. They’re sad, said Laura Fulton, principal of the Peru, Indiana school. They walk into the classroom and see that empty desk sitting there.
Three siblings 6-year-old Miracle Gingerich, 5-year-old Steven Gingerich and 1-year-old Wilma Gingerich died Saturday, Feb. 27, in a fire at their home in the 13000 block of South County Road 300 East in Miami County north of Indianapolis.
“It’s been surreal, Fulton added. This is my 28th year in education, and it’s the first time I’ve ever dealt with the death of a student.
Miracle, Steven and Wilma Gingerich died in the fire. Author: Rich Nye Updated: 7:50 PM EST March 1, 2021
KOKOMO, Ind. The state fire marshal is investigating the cause of a house fire that killed three children over the weekend in Miami County. The three siblings were just six, five and one year old. The family’s church and school community are devastated and trying to help the mother who survived.
Not much of the house is still standing in rural Kokomo. Six-year-old Miracle, five-year-old Steven, and 18-month-old Wilma Gingerich were in a second-floor room Saturday morning. Their mother, Laura Gingerich, was in a downstairs bathroom when she smelled smoke. She could not get up the stairs to her children because of heavy smoke.
Three young children dead in Kokomo area house fire
Three young siblings died from injuries suffered in an early Saturday morning house fire in Miami County.
Indiana State Police Sgt. Tony Slocum said 6-year-old Miracle Gingerich, 5-year-old Steven Gingerich and 1-year-old Wilma Gingerich were trapped inside their home in the 13000 block of South County Road 300 East.
Slocum said their mother, Laura Gingerich, called 911 around 10:50 a.m. Saturday to report that her children were in the burning residence. Firefighters that arrived shortly after 11 a.m. found the children in a second-floor room that contained heavy smoke.
The children were all found unconscious and not breathing, Slocum said. Miracle was taken to a Kokomo hospital, while Steven and Wilma were taken to a Peru hospital.