Gone in minutes: Community, first responders try to come to terms with Butte tragedy

BUTTE — The worst things imaginable can happen in just minutes. That’s what it took for a Thursday morning trailer fire to take the lives of five young girls ages 3 through 12.

The lives of Janelle Quackenbush and Jimmy Flores, their families and friends who knew them, have been forever changed after the young couple lost their five daughters to a fast-moving blaze that had the structure fully engulfed by the time Butte firefighters arrived on the scene. The trailer was located on Wickham Drive off Old Glenn Highway less than a half-mile from the fire department.

Officials don’t yet know the cause of the blaze reported around 7 a.m. Flores had left earlier in the morning, heading to a new job in the family car. A short time later, Quackenbush’s mother arrived at the mobile home, dropping off her vehicle to fill the void. Quackenbush opted to take her mother back home and left the 12-year old Alexis in charge of her siblings: eight-year old Nevaeh Flores, seven-year old Lillyanna Flores, six-year old Sofia Flores, and three-year old Jaelynn Flores.

Neighbors at the small trailer park said shortly after the two women left, they noticed black, thick smoke exiting from the trailer. One neighbor, Aaron Wytaske, said he had his fiancée call 911 and then he ran to the trailer and started breaking windows in an attempt to locate the children and get them to safety. The effort was in vain.

Quackenbush returned shortly after firefighters arrived and apparently was inconsolable. Emergency services personnel at the scene were called over to try and help while Butte firefighters were battling the blaze. Firefighters from Palmer and Central Mat-Su were also called in to assist.

“They were there in three minutes,” said Mat-Su Deputy Fire Director Ken Barkley. “By the time they got there, the trailer was fully engulfed.”

Shortly after snuffing the blaze, firefighters recovered the bodies of three of the siblings. Shortly afterward, two more were located. Neighbors said the girls had apparently huddled in the back bedroom.

By 10 a.m. all that remained was the burned shell of the structure, a fire crew, borough officials and Alaska State Troopers who began the investigation as to what started the fire. Barkley said one crew remained on stand-by to put out hot-spots.

“We couldn’t go in (the trailer),” Barkley said, “because it’s a crime scene and we don’t want to disturb any evidence.”

Barkley said the last firefighter left the scene around 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

Officials kept any onlookers several hundred feet away throughout the day Thursday as the evidence gathering continued. By Friday morning, the road leading in to the trailer park and the crime scene tape that had surrounded the trailer was gone. Water still trickled from the top of the structure. Crime scene markers sat toppled over adjacent to the arctic porch. Children’s toys and bikes stood vigil outside.

Red Cross of Alaska personnel responded to the fire offering immediate assistance as well as counseling. That offer for counseling isn’t limited to just the family but also to firefighters, neighbors and others affected by the loss. A Red Cross representative stated they have already begun contacting some people who may need such counseling.

Barkley said even the most seasoned firefighter would find this incident difficult.

“Something like this will heavily affect them and it’s something that they will never forget. I’ve been doing this for 30 years and I still remember my first one,” said Barkley.

Mat-Su Borough School District officials sent extra grief counselors available at Butte Elementary and Palmer Junior Middle School to assist students if needed. Letters sharing information on school support networks were sent home with students.

Community responds

By Thursday evening, plans were in the works to assist the family. Darryl Drehner, Butte Community Council president said he was aware of several area businesses and that others will probably organize in the coming days. Council vice-president Dane Crowley said the council hasn’t discussed any plans but expects it to come up at the group’s Sept. 13 meeting.

Quackenbush works as a stylist at Great Clips in Palmer. Great Clips manager Amanda Judkins said she and fellow workers want to set up a local fund donation site.

“Right now, we’re waiting to hear back from the family,” Judkins said.

Klondike Mike’s employees have a planned fundraiser but no date has been set. According to Heidi Elan Sena, a silent auction is in the works and the establishment is accepting auction donations which can be dropped off anytime. Sena said monetary donations are also being accepted.

Accounts have been set up on both Facebook and GoFundMe to assist the family. Flores’ sister, Marita Camarena, set up a Facebook account to help cover transportation and funeral expenses. She stated the family wants to have the girls’ funeral in California where many of the family’s relatives reside. The link to that account is https://www.facebook.com/donate/897002680463600/

A cousin of Flores, Teresa Lopez of Utah, has sent up the GoFundMe account.

“We need help so that he can fly his girls back home so that they can be with family and have proper burials,” Lopez said.

The link to that account is

https://www.gofundme.com/e65axm-today-5-beautiful-babies-lost-there

Palmer City Manager Nathan Wallace said his office has been contacted about conducting some type of vigil to celebrate the lives of the young girls. Wallace said he was unsure of who or what group, but someone wanted to know what procedures and paperwork was necessary to conduct such an event. As of press time, nothing official had been announced.

Contact reporter Chris Ford at 352-2270 or chris.ford@frontiersman.com