Crime & Safety

Mother, Daughter Killed in Avondale Estates Fire

Neighbors say Tami and Jess Willadsen died in a house fire Saturday night on Lakesshore Drive. Friends have set up an account on the Go Fund Me website to collect donations for the family.

A mother and her 10-year-old daughter died Saturday night in a house fire on Lakeshore Drive in Avondale Estates.
 
The intense flames prevented firefighters from entering the burning house, DeKalb Fire Capt. Eric Jackson told WSB TV.

The father was able to pull his 5-year-old son from the burning home; the child is in critical condition. But, the boy’s older sister and their mother could not escape.

DeKalb Fire officials did not identify the victims, but Decaturish.com says a Go Fund Me account identified the deceased mother and daughter as Tami Willadsen, 43, and Jess Willadsen, 10.

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The website says the father, Dave Willadsen had minor burns, while their son, Jack, 5, is in the Grady Hospital burn unit.

Friends have established a Go Fund Me account to raise money for the family. You can click on the Go Fund Me link to find the Willadsen family page, which had raised more than $11,000 by Sunday afternoon.

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Dave Willadsen’s stepmother wrote a thank-you note on the site:

“I am Ronelle Willadsen and my husband Steve are trying to adjust to the loss of our dear daughter-in-law and precious granddaughter. We live in Iowa and so appreciate all you are doing for our dear children. Dave needs all your prayers because he will be lost without his girls. Jack is in very dire condition. Thank you all for caring.” 

Neighbors said the family just moved into the neighborhood about six weeks ago. The family was having a housewarming party when the fire started.


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