KARNES CITY, Texas — 85-year-old Mary Ada Blackmon was inside the house on County Road 354 when the fire started before 6 p.m. Sunday. Her husband Mike was outside when he saw the home on fire and went in to try and save his wife. Fire officials believe it was started by a kitchen stove.
Fire chief of the Karnes City Volunteer Fire Department – Charles Malik, knew the couple personally.
“When he tried going in he just couldn’t get to her,” Malik said. “And that’s what killed him, he died trying to save her.”
Dwayne Busselman and Mandy Koehl reflect on their parents’ compassion.
“They had hearts big as gold,” Busselman said. “Anybody they saw in need, the people on the street they didn’t know – they’d stop and say hello.”
Crews from Karnes City, Falls City and Kenedy Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire. They were able to get the couple out of the home but not unscathed.
What the family desires now is thanking the community for their support.
“We’d also like for the volunteer fire departments and volunteer emergency services that made the call out here, to be recognized,” Koehl said.