Three Children Die and Fourth Hospitalized After House Fire Near Sand Gap, KY

Officials say the coroner’s office was called to the scene of a house fire in Jackson County. Kentucky State Police report that three children were killed in a house fire on Upper Dry Fork Road in Jackson County on Tuesday, just before midnight.

According to KSP, the Jackson County coroner responded to the scene where a 7-month-old, a 2-year-old, and a 3-year-old were pronounced dead.

KSP says that a 4-year-old was transported to the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital and later taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus to be treated. Three adults, according to KSP, were also taken to UK Hospital for treatment of their injuries in the fire.

According to KSP, "the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the deaths remain under investigation."
McKee Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, Sand Gap Fire Department, and the Lily Fire & Rescue responded to the fire early Wednesday morning, according to Facebook posts by the departments.

The fire was near the intersection of U.S. 421 and Highway 2004 near Sand Gap.

Just before midnight on December 23, 2025, Kentucky State Police, Post 7 in Richmond, received a request from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department for investigative assistance regarding a fatal house fire on Upper Dry Fork Road in McKee.

Three adults, Tyler Monst, 23 of McKee, Morgan Johnson, 22 of McKee, and Florence Johnson, 76 of McKee, were transported to the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the fire.

The cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the deaths remain under investigation. The investigation remains ongoing and is being led by KSP Detective Anthony Bowling. He was assisted at the scene by Kentucky State Police personnel, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Multiple Fire Departments and the Jackson County Coroner’s Office.