Family mourns grandmother, 4 grandkids killed in house fire that left 5 others hospitalized

INDEPENDENCE, Kan. (KWCH/Gray News) - A Kansas family is mourning after a grandmother and four of her grandchildren were killed in an early morning house fire. Five other people, including the children’s mother, were hospitalized.

The fire in Independence was reported about 6:22 a.m. Friday. Family members have identified the victims as Johanna Landsaw-Davis and four of her grandchildren: Bane, Case, Ahlaya and Renesmae.

Five other people, three of them children, were hospitalized due to the fire. Among them are the young victims’ mother, Destiny, and oldest sibling.

Neighbors like Michelle Blankenship spoke out in the aftermath of the fire.

“I walked out of my bedroom, and it was just a solid wall of red outside the windows in the front,” she said. “Once I found out how many people died, it was just... awful, awful.”

Independence Fire Chief Aaron Cook said Tuesday he has been thinking about the family in the days since the tragedy.

“Our hearts are broken, and we hurt alongside you,” Cook wrote in a Facebook post. “There are no words that can adequately express the sorrow we feel for your loss. Please know that our entire department is thinking of you, praying for you, and standing beside you during this unimaginable time. This tragedy will forever leave an emotional mark on all of us.”

Angela Lybarger, a cousin to some of the victims, says the family is thankful for the community’s support at this difficult time.

“I was saddened. Very saddened,” Lybarger said. “We are very thankful for everybody’s support.”

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with funeral expenses and hospital bills.

Investigators are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the fire, including how it started.