An apartment fire on Emma Street the evening of Jan. 23 killed two parents and one child, 7, and injured three other children, who are being treated for injuries in mainland hospitals. At least one of the injured children was in very critical condition as of the morning of Friday, Jan. 24.
The state fire marshal is investigating the cause of the tragic blaze that engulfed Unit 6C in Fort Village Apartments, a public housing complex owned and operated by the Key West Housing Authority at Truman Avenue and Emma Street.
The deceased are Jean Decimy, 41; Evelyne Pierre, 38; and Dave Decimy, 7. The injured children are Jean Decimy, 14; Sanaika Decimy, 5; and Sadrac Decimy, 5.
“This is an unimaginable tragedy, and people are still wrapping their heads around it,” Randy Sterling, executive director of the Key West Housing Authority, told the Keys Weekly on Friday, Jan. 24 after working all night to ensure that all other residents from the buildig’s five other units were safely housed. “But this community has and will continue to do what it always does, by coming together to help in times of crisis, be it a fire, a hurricane or anything else.
“My maintenance director, who isn’t from Key West, told me he’s lived in other communities, and has never seen or experienced this type of community response,” Sterling added. “The mayor and city officials were with me last night with the Red Cross, as we set up a sort of response center at the community center across the street to figure out what needed to be done and what people needed. But obviously, this tragedy has devastated a family and the needs will be ongoing.”
Sterling also credited Key West Fire Department for its quick and skilled response, which kept the fire contained to Unit 6C in the concrete block structure that was built in 1942. Fort Village includes a total of 84 units in multiple buildings, according to the housing authority website. There are six apartments in building No. 6, where the fire occurred.

“We were able to find housing for everyone last night, because obviously all six units in that building had to be evacuated, but thanks to the fire department’s efforts to contain the blaze, we should be able to get at least four of the other families back in their homes today,” Sterling said, adding that the unit directly next door to 6C will take longer for the residents to return. The housing authority and Red Cross are ensuring they have a place to stay and whatever they need.
The Key West community is seeking ways to help, and a list of needs is being compiled. Stay tuned to keysweekly.com and to Keys Weekly’s Facebook page for the latest information about assistance efforts.