On April 6, 2017 at 11:50 pm our Department was dispatched to what would prove to be the single worst loss of life due to fire in the history of our Department and Henry County.
Of 7 family members, 5 lost their lives in this fire. Only 2 survived...
Lilly Pollack age 13, woke up just before midnight, to find their home full of smoke and fire. She was able to escape and then stood at the doorway calling out to her parents and siblings. Finally hearing her 8 year old sister Rose, Lilly heroically stepped back inside the door and pulled her younger sister to safety. The two girls then ran next door to their Grandmother's house for help. But by the time our fire units were dispatched and could arrive on scene it was too late for the other family members. All 5 other family members perished in the fire.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to this family. We ask you to keep them in your thoughts and prayers as well. We also ask that you keep our firefighters in your thoughts and prayers. They are volunteers and many of them have small children. Some of them work at the school where these children attended. It has been a difficult situation for them as well.
If you would like to help this family, a fund has been setup for the Pollack family at Security Bank & Trust in Paris, TN. (731-642-6644)
A GoFundMe account has also been set up online at:
Investigation by the Tennessee State Fire Marshall's Office and the Henry County Sheriff's Office later determined that a problem with the wood burning stove which was in use was the cause of the fire.
It was also determined that there were no smoke alarms in this residence.
We ask you to please test your smoke alarms regularly. Replace the batteries when needed. If your smoke alarms are more than 10 years old replace them. If you do not have smoke alarms purchase and install them immediately, or call any of our local Fire Departments or the Henry County Sheriff's office and we will provide and install them for you at no charge. At a minimum you should have one smoke alarm on every floor of your home and one in each sleeping room. To obtain free smoke alarms for our area, please use one of the contacts listed below:
Paris Landing Fire Department: 731-644-9360
Henry County Sheriff's Office: 731-642-1672
Message us on Facebook:
TN State Fire Marshall:
Or: Send us an email by filling out the information below
Jimmy Pollack Carrie Pollack Jimmy Pollack Jr Ivy Pollack Callie Pollack
Age 37 Age 36 Age 14 Age 4 Age 3
At the time of this tragedy, Jimmy Pollack Jr was in the 8th Grade at Lakewood School. He was an avid dodge ball player. In his memory, the school created the Jimmy Pollack Memorial Dodge Ball Tournament to be held annually. Funds raised by the Tournament are then used to purchase smoke alarms to be given out free of charge to the students to take home. With the goal of preventing this type of tragedy from ever occurring in our community again. This year's 2nd Annual Tournament proceeds purchased 86 smoke alarms which were given out by our firefighters to the Kindergarten class. The Kindergarten students also got to visit with our firefighters, learn about fire safety and see the Fire Truck.
Pictures below...........................
Fire Fatalities, April 6, 2017