Local businesses and residents are coming together this week to support the Millican family following the tragic house fire that claimed the life of LaFayette High School teacher John Millican III and left his wife and two young children seriously injured.
A community fundraiser is planned for Friday, with several local businesses in Chickamauga collecting donations to assist the family as they recover and rebuild.
For those unable to make it to Chickamauga, donations can also be made at any Bank of LaFayette branch. Bank officials say all contributions will be combined, and a check will be issued directly to the Millican family.
The fundraiser follows the November 9 fire at the family’s home on Ridgewood Circle in Walker County. Fire Marshal Scott Forrest said emergency crews arrived within minutes to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the front of the residence.
John Millican, who was trapped inside, was rescued by firefighters but later died at a nearby hospital. His wife, Heather Millican, a Social Studies teacher at LaFayette Middle School, and their two children, ages 3 and 8, were transferred to the Vanderbilt Burn Center in Nashville for treatment.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and officials say the home was a total loss.