Three dead in Fayette assisted care home fire; family member identifies one of the victims
Editor's note: The story has been updated to better reflect the use of the home.
FAYETTE, Mo. (KMIZ)
Three people died in an assisted care home fire on Tuesday in Fayette.
The fire engulfed the building on Villers Drive behind Perkins Residential Care Center on Main Street in Fayette on Tuesday morning, Fayette co-fire chief Steven Morrow told ABC 17 News. Morrow said firefighters had to battle the blaze defensively when they arrived due to the size of the fire.
"When we arrived on scene, it was fully engulfed there was no interior attack from us, it was all exterior," Morrow said. "It's very difficult, we're a completely volunteer department, so it's a small community."
Crews arrived at the scene at around 6:40 a.m. The fire took around an hour to an hour and a half to be put out initially, with crews managing hotspots of the fire until the scene cleared at around 2 p.m. The damage was considered a complete loss.
"We've seen total losses, but not with the fatalities," co-fire chief Gary Kunze said.
Morrow said six people were initially trapped inside of the home with three people escaping the fire without injuries and three people dying inside.
A family member identified one of the victims as 63-year-old Marcia Lyon. Lyon was identified by her brother Novy Foland.
Lyon’s daughter, Shauna Lyon, remembered her mother as devoted to her family and community.
“My mom was truly one of a kind. She was a hard worker and loved her grandkids. She loved to go on trips and spend time with family. She was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone. She will be deeply missed.”
Foland said Marcia Lyon's selflessness defined who she was.
“One thing I can tell you about Marcia is she had one of the biggest hearts ever, always caring about everybody else, sacrificing her own time and plans to help take care of others," he said. "Her work ethic was unmatched, and it doesn't surprise me that she got some people out and was going in to save others. That is what it seems like happened anyway, from what I have heard. She loved family, and everyone was either a child or a grandchild to her.”
ABC 17 News is still working to learn of the identities of the additional victims. Shauna Lyon also confirmed Marcia worked at Perkins ISL at the time of her death.
Jamie Wilhoit, owner and administrator of Perkins ISL, gave no comment on Tuesday.
The Department of Mental Health had certified the individualized supported living facility in 2024, according to an email from spokeswoman Debra Walker. ISLs are recertified every two years. Walker's email says in 2024, "there were no fire safety or environmental concerns."
A 2023 federal review of individualized supported living facilities in Missouri found some areas of oversight could be improved. The report said the state does not require providers to conduct periodic background checks on staff and found some facilities were missing documentation related to staff training and reviews.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
This is a developing story. Stay with ABC 17 News for the latest information.
