We now know the victims’ names of the fatal fire in Louisburg last week. Thirty-one-year-old Tori Sanders and her 5-year-old daughter Addie Sanders died in the fire. A neighbor was pulling two people from the back of the house as fire crews arrived Thursday morning, May 16th. Louisburg Fire Chief Gerald Rittinghouse says Addie was pronounced deceased at the scene, and Tori was taken to a hospital before being pronounced deceased. The fire is being investigated by the Kansas State Fire Marshal Office, and the suspected cause and details of the fire won’t be available until the report is finalized and released.
Unfortunately, it appears as though there is no evidence of working smoke detectors in the home and Louisburg Police Chief Josh Weber urges people to ensure they have working smoke detectors in homes. A family member of the victims created a gofundme page to help support the surviving child, Preston Sanders, who is finishing fifth grade and was at school at the time of the fire. To donate, go to the web site gofundme.com and search “provide aid to a child after a house fire”. Donations can also be brought to KOFO studios in Ottawa and we will make sure they get to the right people.
