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Son: Father dies after fire at home in York County

Edwin Walker said his father and mother were in the house along with Walker's sister, niece, and son when the fire started. Everyone else is expected to be okay.

YORK COUNTY, Va. — Fire crews said they rescued two people from a burning home in the Springfield Terrace subdivision in Bruton Friday morning and that the people had critical injuries.

One of those people didn't survive.

Edwin Walker said his father, Edwin Cosby, died. Walker said both his parents were home when the fire started at the house on Hickory Hills Drive. Walker's sister, niece, and son were there, too.

York County Fire and Life Safety got a report about the fire around 8 a.m. Crews from James City County and Williamsburg joined the York County crews at the home.

When they arrived, there was heavy smoke coming from the house and fire inside it.

Three people managed to get out of the home by the time crews got there. Two others, including Cosby, were inside. Crews rescued the two people who were trapped, and they started treating the others who had gotten out.

Medics took the two people who had been trapped to the hospital as well as two of the people who had made it out on their own. The fifth person did not need to go to the hospital.

Crews had gotten the fire out by 11 a.m. There was substantial damage to the inside of the home. Investigators said Friday afternoon that the fire started in the living room area. They still were looking into how it started.

Credit: Edwin Walker
Mary Cosby and Edwin Cosby

Walker said Cosby, who was part of the custodial staff at Matthew Whaley Elementary School, was a hard worker who loved his family, and was anticipating the birth of another grandchild.

Cosby's wife, Mary, works for Willimasburg-James City County Schools in the transportation department.

A GoFundMe has been started for the family.

Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire/Rescue provided scene support as well as fire station back-fill. The York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office provided scene and investigation support.

Credit: the York County Department of Fire and Life Safety
Crews were at a home on Hickory Hills Drive in Springfield Terrace in York County where a fire started on August 14, 2020.

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