Authorities are investigating the cause of a house fire on Tuesday on Lawrence Conehatta Road, which resulted in the death of a 7-year-old child.
According to school reports, the victim was identified as Mia Le, 7. She was a student at Newton County Elementary School.
The Newton County School District released the following statement last week.
“It is with deep sadness we offer our condolences to the Le Family upon the loss of their daughter, sister, and our Little Cougar, Mia,” the statement said. “Mia, a second grader and a recent recipient of the ‘Paws for Good Character’ Award in Citizenship, exemplified the true meaning of our Cougar Code of Conduct, Little Cougars are: safe, kind, respectful, and ready to learn.
“Know everyone throughout our district is thinking of you and praying for you as you navigate the days ahead.”
The Le family posted on Facebook that they appreciated all of the help that they have received since the fire.
“WOW!!! We are so overwhelmed by the love, support, and prayers the community has shown my family during this difficult and tragic time,” Thu Le said on Facebook. “It means the world to my family. Please continue to pray for my brother-in-law and his family especially in the upcoming days. We want to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts to the community, Broad St Nutrition, Newton County Elementary School, Caitlyn Carter, Rebecca Burton and Newton County.”
Sheriff Joedy Pennington said first responders received the call at 3:55 a.m. Tuesday morning for a house fire at 1147 Lawrence Conehatta Road.
“Everyone made it out of the house except a 7-year-old girl,” Pennington said. “My fire investigator and the state fire marshal are currently investigating the cause of the fire. It’s just a horrible situation.”
Pennington said Newton County Emergency Management, Conehatta Volunteer Fire Department, Gibbstown-Lawrence Volunteer Fire Department, Hickory Volunteer Fire Department and Newton Fire Department were among the agencies that responded to the incident.
Pennington said he didn’t know how many people were in the home.
“The father was transported to the Baptist Hospital,” Pennington said. “He sustained injuries from trying to rescue his daughter from the fire.”
