Woman Loses Life in Fire on Brier Creek Road

Scene of a fatal structure fire on Brier Creek Road, January 25, 2025.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
A woman has died as a result of a house fire in the Mammoth Cave community.

Emergency personnel were called out to 1505 Brier Creek Road around 1AM on Saturday, January 25, 2025 to the report of a structure fire at the home of Charles and Martha Smith. When firefighters arrived, they were informed that one of the four residents was still inside.

Scene of a fatal structure fire on Brier Creek Road, January 25, 2025.

Emergency personnel work at the scene of a fire on January 25, 2025.

The missing individual inside was later found deceased and identified as Vanessa Thompson, age 72, according to the Edmonson County Coroner's Office.

The state fire marshal's office will be in charge of the investigation as part of a standard process.

A Lincoln firefighter works at the scene of a house fire on January 25, 2025.

Scene of a fatal structure fire on Brier Creek Road, January 25, 2025.

Onlookers can only watch at the scene of a house fire on January 25, 2025.

Firefighters were on scene in just a few minutes but the home was already engulfed.

"The house was fully engulfed when we got here," said Lincoln VFD Fire Chief Steve Sanders. "It was already falling in." He said that a recovery effort was then the focus.

Nathan Smith, a son of the residents, expressed the family's gratitude to the emergency workers that were on scene. He is a former Edmonson County teacher and head football coach for ECHS.

Firefighters on scene of a structure fire on January 25, 2025.

Responding to the scene were the Lincoln, Kyrock, Brownsville, and Bear Creek Fire Departments, the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, Edmonson EMS, Warren RECC, District 5 Constable, and the Edmonson County Coroner's Office.

The other three residents were not injured in the fire, according to emergency personnel on scene.