On Nov. 21, the town of Flora, IN suffered the devastating deaths of four beautiful young girls. Five-year-old Kionnie Welch, 7-year-old Kerriele McDonald, 9-year-old Keyara Phillips and 11-year-old Keyana Davis died of smoke inhalation as their home caught fire in the early morning hours. The girls’ mother, Gaylin Rose, was airlifted to Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis in critical condition. Her father, Tracie Rose, says that she wasn’t speaking but responded to his voice. She was released over the weekend.

Firefighters and police were sent out around 4 a.m. on Monday in the 100 block of East Columbia Street in Flora. Investigators don’t have an exact reason for the fire, but they think it may have originated from behind the refrigerator. Deputy Drew Yoder suffered from burn damage in his lungs, and on his hands and forehead. He was released from the burn unit in Fort Wayne last Sunday and has a couple weeks to a month recovery time. Carroll County Sheriff Tobe Leazenby reported that Deputy Yoder wants to be back to work as soon as possible. Josh Disinger, Flora Police Officer, was also injured in the attempt to rescue Yoder.

Carroll Consolidated Schools released students  at 1 o’clock on Tuesday and  closed school on Wednesday for the viewing and funeral. Due to IHSAA rules, all activities were canceled for the week. The viewing was held on Tuesday, Nov. 29th at Carroll Junior Senior High School from 4 to 7 p.m. and the funeral was held Wednesday, Nov. 30th also at the school.

Pastor Jeff Landon, of Flora United Methodist, held a special prayer service for the family at Flora United Methodist Church last Tuesday. The community gathered to help the family grieve, and at the end of the prayer service, everyone walked one block and placed a flower on the front portion of the house. The four girls were members of the Lafayette Diamond Cheer Team; members of the team gathered to light candles and sign posters for remembrance of.  Carroll County Community members have also been leaving balloons, posters, dolls, and teddy bears around the site of the fire to show love and support for the girls, the family, and the injured officers.