KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — Families experienced a heartbreaking Christmas morning in Kingsport after a house fire in the 600 block of West Valley Drive resulted in the deaths of two young girls, Riley and Maggie Blevins.
Their mother remains in critical condition following the tragedy.
All photos: Lacie Hafley
All photos: Lacie Hafley
All photos: Lacie Hafley
The girls had been students at Boones Creek Elementary School.
Washington County Schools Superintendent Jerry Boyd told News Channel 11 on Monday that once students return to school, counseling options will be widely available to both faculty and students.
“In a tragic fire as this one, you know, it’s just, there’s no words to describe it,” Boyd said. “It’s just a heavy feeling, and everyone wants to be there and be supportive, including myself.”
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“I know the best way that I can support is to ensure resources are available. That we are listening to the needs of the family and to those that all the loved ones and friends and teachers and staff that knew the children, and that we’re available and support them.”
Boyd said he knows the loss is widespread, as even those who didn’t personally know the family are affected by the shock and nature of the tragedy.
“[For] all the faculty, staff, students that are impacted by the loss, we organized to have ready additional counselors, other mental health supports with our regional partner to be available when everyone returns next week. If anyone needs support right now, they can contact us. And we certainly can connect them with those supports now, and we’re ready to do that. But, you know, it’s unimaginable the loss any time young lives are lost.”
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Boyd added that the school will be partnering with Frontier Health for the availability of mental health support specialists, and the families of Riley and Maggie will get full access at any time. He said they will be trying to support the family as much as they can during this time.
“As a school district, as caring professionals, our hearts are broken for this tragic loss for the family and all loved ones. So it’s really just about being available and attentive and ensuring that we act and provide supports as they become necessary.”
Fall Branch Volunteer Fire Department’s Chief Jim Dawson, who was at the fire scene Thursday morning, said the Christmas house fire was a situation no one ever wants to experience.
“It [grief and shock] just affects different folks in different ways,” Dawson said. “And it can depend too entirely on your situation. The bad thing about it is, it can affect you later. It might not show up right now. It might not be an immediate thing, but it can show up in a later cause or instance that happened.”
Washington County Schools isn’t the only organization that is taking a counseling approach to the devastating circumstances; Dawson said the Sullivan West Fire Department will host a “critical incident stress debriefing” for all departments and responders on the scene Christmas morning as a means for them to ensure they receive proper counseling.
“It’s stressful. And yes, it’s a dangerous job. And what they have to do, and what we have to do–I would encourage any of them, whether it’s career or volunteer, if you see that something bothers you, you need to try to talk to somebody. Talk to somebody just, you know, but never lose that compassion.”
The debriefing is set for Tuesday at around 7 p.m. for all departments and agencies involved in the response to Thursday morning’s call.
Boyd told News Channel 11 that both Riley and Maggie were cherished members of the school’s community.
Boyd said they have an email for anyone needing to be connected to the additional support the schools have in place, which is studentsupport@wcde.org. He said individuals can also email him directly at boydj@wcde.org.
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