Community rallies around young sisters whose parents died after Albemarle County house fire

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The Albemarle County community has rallied to support two young sisters who lost both of their parents in a tragic house fire earlier this month.

According to Albemarle County Fire Rescue, an accidental fire broke out in the family's home on Starry Sky Lane in the Keswick area at around 7 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5.

Ashley and Stephen Williams, both 37, were inside the home with their daughters, 8-year-old Emma and 3-year-old Lily. They were all taken to the hospital, where both parents died.

Tommy Comer is a longtime co-worker of Ashley. He said there was no hesitation to help after hearing the tragic news.

“We immediately went into action and said, we need to do something right now,” Comer said.

Comer formerly worked at Commonwealth Senior Living (CSL), where Ashley spent 17 years. She and Comer also worked together to launch CSL's charity arm, Commonwealth Cares. The non-profit organization is designed to support CSL employees in times of need.

“Literally from the day it started, she’s been a huge, integral part of that foundation,” Comer said. “And now we’re using that to help her own kids.”

Since the tragedy, Commonwealth Cares has raised more than $55,000 to support the Williams family. Comer said Ashley also spent much of her time coordinating the organization's annual golf tournament which was held a day after the tragedy, and is now named in her honor.

The fire-rescue community has also joined in to support the girls, through the First In Foundation and have raised more than $136,000. The First In Foundation is a nonprofit that supports first responders and their families.

According to the fundraising campaign, the girls' uncle is a life member of the East Rivanna Volunteer Fire Company. The foundation’s president, Jason Tetterton, described Stephen as a generous man with a willingness to lend a hand to anyone who needed it.

"Stephen and Ashley Williams were the kind of people everyone hopes to have as neighbors, kind, hardworking, and deeply devoted parents. Their love for their girls was evident in everything they did," Tetterton said.

Organizers of both fundraisers said the donations will go toward immediate relief and long-term expenses for Emma and Lily.

"The Williams family has given so much [of] their service, and seeing that same community now rally behind them is both moving and inspiring," Tetterton said.

Emma suffered a broken toe and Lily is recovering from pneumonia. Both girls have since been released from the hospital.

"The girls are with family and surrounded by love, stability and the unwavering support of an entire community standing behind them," Tetterton said.

You can find the fundraiser set up by Ashley's co-workers here. The second fundraiser by the First In Foundation can be found here.