Two Western State College students killed in house fire

Four others rescued

Two Western State College (WSC) students died after the house they were staying in caught fire in the early morning hours of Saturday, January 30.

School officials have identified the victims as Lucille “Lucy” Grace Causley, 18, of Harbor Springs, Mich., and Adam Michael Lockard, 21, of Bethesda, Md. Gunnison County Coroner Frank Vader says the two students died of acute carbon monoxide poisoning, most likely due to smoke inhalation, around 5:30 a.m.
According to the Gunnison Police Department, “a passerby” called in the house fire on the 100 block of N. Colorado St. at 5:19 a.m. Saturday. Two responding Gunnison police officers were able to pull three current WSC students and one former student from the burning house before firefighters stepped in to extinguish the flames.
Two of the people pulled from the fire were tenants at the house and two others were not.
Shortly after, “Two occupants of the residence were found deceased in an upstairs bedroom,” according to a press release.
“Neither were in bed. They had apparently been awakened by something and had tried to get out,” Vader says. “Adam was found on the floor by the door. [Lucy] was found on the floor closer to the window and she had put on a coat and one boot.”
Lockard was in his first season volunteering as an intern at the Adaptive Sports Center in Mt. Crested Butte.
“He was basically just a really nice big-hearted kid. He was always fun in lessons and this was something that he really wanted to do,” ASC Program Supervisor JJ Hanratty says. “He was really excited to work with Adaptive and he said it was something of a calling. He just wanted to share his love of the mountains.”
Hanratty said Lockard’s coworkers have been baffled by Saturday’s events and sad to see such a young man taken in the tragedy.
“You still just expect him to walk in. We keep finding sticky notes he had left,” Hanratty says.
One police officer suffered an eye injury from broken glass while getting people from the house and a Gunnison firefighter was also treated and released from Gunnison Valley Hospital for inhaling smoke and hot air.
“We are shocked and deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the students’ families and friends during this difficult time,” WSC President Jay Helman said on the school’s website.
According to the Gunnison Police Department, their investigation shows that the fire originated on the exterior of the residence and spread into the house. The incident is under investigation to determine if the fire was set intentionally or by accident.
Vader said he would be sending toxicology samples to El Paso County, where they could be tested for type and quantity of a substance, if any are present. He said it would be six to eight weeks before results for the toxicology reports are returned.
The college has opened a walk-in counseling center to help students and staff cope with the effects of the fire. Students can also call (970) 943-2469 for counseling assistance. Anyone with additional information about the fire may contact the Gunnison Police Department at (970) 641-8200. A memorial service was held at the college on Tuesday.