Man Dies in a Structure Fire, Wife is Seriously Burned

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

LOUISA —Louisa Fire Department and the Kentucky State Police at Post 14, issued releases regarding a fatal structure fire that claimed the life of Terry L. Derossett, 66, who succumbed to smoke inhalation and his wife, Junenell May, was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment, then transferred on to Cabell Huntington Hospital where she is listed in critical condition.

According to May’s Facebook page, she and Derossett were married since May 16, 2022 and the couple just recently celebrated their first anniversary.

Louisa Fire Department said when they arrived, they found heavy smoke conditions with fire in the rear of the structure.

“First engine company made entry and found a female victim just a few feet from the front door,” Louisa Fire Department said in their release. “Under heavy smoke and heat conditions with fire entering the room over their heads, Captain Anthony Caudill along with firefighter Luke Wellman removed the female victim to the outside where additional firefighters began resuscitation efforts Captain Caudill along with firefighters L. Wellman and N. Burchett re-entered the structure and began searching for the second victim which was found in the living room not too far from where the first victim was found. The male subject was removed from the structure and firefighters began resuscitation efforts. The third engine company arrived shortly after the first and second engine company and began fire suppression operations to extinguish the fire.

Louisa Fire Department Chief, Eddie Preston said in the release that both victims were transported to the hospital and CPR continued for Derossett, all the way to the hospital.

Shortly afterward, salvage and overhaul operations began, Preston said.

“Per protocol, the Kentucky State Fire Marshall’s Office along with the Kentucky State Police were notified to respond to the scene to investigate the fire.

KSP said in their release that it appeared that the fire began near a dryer and no foul play was suspected. Derossett was sent to the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

Kentucky State Police, and the Louisa Fire Department were also assisted at the scene by the Lawrence County Coroner’s Office and the Kentucky State Fire Marshalls Office.