Community Holds Prayer Vigil For Bellevue Firefighters

BELLEVUE (KDKA) -- The community of Bellevue is still trying to come to terms with the death of five members of one family in a house fire Friday night.

The medical examiner ruled 41-year-old Stephen Lasch, 38-year-old Angela Lasch and their three children: 11-year-old Noah Lasch, 6-year-old Kayley Lasch and 4-year-old Hannah Lasch, all died from smoke inhalation. Their deaths were determined to be accidental.

Sunday night, the community surrounded Bellevue's firefighters, who did everything they could to save the Lasch family.

"There is a quote on the side of our truck that says, 'failure is not an option,'" said firefighter Jack Davin. "For firefighters, when someone dies in a fire, it's failure to us."

Hands reached out as community members prayed with the firefighters.

"Lord, let them know they are appreciated. They are loved. Lord, we pray your protection upon them and in this difficulty, that they would know they're not by themselves," one person said.

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Bellevue's fire chief had called the crew together to support each other, in a time when many of them were grieving.

But, the support from the community was way more than any of them expected.

"We train, we spend so much time preparing for things, it's hard to accept the things we don't want to prepare for. We don't want to prepare for death," Davin said.

People in Bellevue are getting through some of the toughest days they have ever had to face, by laying hands on those who put their lives on the line everyday.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to cover the cost of the funerals for the family members. For more information, click here.