Passerby saves a life as Cox & Son Funeral Home burns

‘I’m afraid this is likely a total loss’- Kenny Huddleston, Cox & Son Funeral Home

George Hackler, owner of Cox & Son Funeral Home, following the aftermath.

Cox & Son Funeral Home, in business since 1910, sustained massive damage from a Wednesday afternoon fire.

JELLICO, TN (WLAF) – A life was saved from fire though the building could not be saved. Wilma Cox with Cox & Son Funeral Home made it out alive thanks to a passerby after he noticed the local landmark had smoke billowing from the attic, according to Kenny Huddleston a member of the Cox & Son Funeral Home staff.

VERY TOP PHOTO: It’s commonly believed the fire began in the attic on the back side of the funeral home.

Cox & Son Funeral Home has been a part of the Jellico landscape since 1910.

A neighbor, the first to notice smoke coming from the attic on the back side of the Fifth Street business, called 911. It was just after 2:15pm Wednesday when firefighters with the Jellico Fire Department and the Jellico Rescue Squad arrived to heavy smoke rising from the back of the structure.

Firefighters battled the fire from up top and below.

Huddleston and Cox & Son Funeral Home owner George Hackler were at Jellico Monument, also a Hackler owned business, doing inventory when they heard about the fire. The men hustled from Jellico Monument, just across the state line on Highway 25W north of Jellico, to the funeral home.

“We were able to get all the files out along with all pre-arrangements and death certificates,” said Huddleston. There was not a body in the funeral home at the time of the fire, one less concern for Hackler and the staff.

Unit 108 came over from La Follette to fight the fire from on high. La Follette Fire Department firefighters were dispatched around 4pm.

Calls offering help began coming in as soon as word of the fire became known. “We’ve heard from Ellison Funeral Home of Williamsburg and O’Neil-Lawson Funeral Home at Corbin saying they’re willing to help us. The folks at Crouches Creek Baptist Church and another church or two are offering us to use their facilities,” said Huddleston.

Firefighters also battled the heat and heavy smoke.

“I’m afraid this is likely a total loss. The attic may have been hit the hardest; almost the whole roof is gone,” said Huddleston.

Almost the whole roof is gone, according to Kenny Huddleston.

Two units from the Caryville Volunteer Fire Department along with La Follette Fire Department’s ladder truck, Unit 108, Jellico Police and Campbell County EMS and EMA responded. It’s not been confirmed if any fire departments from Kentucky assisted. Traffic was able to travel Fifth Street without much slow down during the ordeal.

“We have a contingency plan in place, and we are still here for our community. Our telephone is operating, 423.784.6010, and families and friends may call when they need us,” said Huddleston.

Post fire assessment

Aside from the close call with Wilma Cox being rescued from the burning building, there were no injuries. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 07/11/2024-6AM-PHOTOS SUBMITTED)