Family Says Brother of Deceased Woman Saved Children From Riverton House Fire

The uncle of two young children rescued from a fatal house fire in Riverton also tried to save their mother—his sister—who did not survive, family and police say. The fire broke out around 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the 600 block of North Broadway Avenue, drawing a chaotic response from neighbors, law enforcement, and firefighters.

The Riverton Police Department initially reported that “good Samaritan” bystanders rushed into the home and pulled the children to safety. But on Friday morning, police said they had learned that it was actually the children’s uncle—the brother of the deceased woman—along with another man who pulled the children from the home through a window. “The children were trying to get out a window,” RPD Chief Eric Hurtado said.

Neighbor Bert Adcock, who lives two houses south, saw the woman’s brother screaming as he broke a window. Smoke streamed out. “I told Dan, ‘My God, the house is on fire, we’ve got to go over there,’” she recalled. Numerous people converged on the scene. Adcock said enough people gathered to carry two children out of the home and place them on the ground. The children, described as preschool or toddler age, suffered burns and were flown to another facility for medical care.

Another neighbor, Lisa Cook, who lives directly north, saw the fire through her kitchen window. She grabbed a fire blanket and rushed inside, but a wind pitched flames up a curtain, forcing her to shut the door. She then threw a garden hose over the fence. Cook said she heard the children’s brother yelling, “My sister! My sister’s still inside.” Bowlsby was retrieved from the home but died after being transported to a hospital.

Fremont County Sheriff Ryan Lee, wearing a cowboy hat and no uniform, arrived on scene, vaulted a fence, and rushed into the burning home. Undersheriff Mike Hutchison confirmed Deputy Larry Holladay transported at least one child to the hospital. Cook described the family as “adorable,” recalling that Bowlsby had been letting the children hammer tree stumps in the front yard to make planting circles for flowers. “Never failed to greet me or ask me how my day was,” Cook said.

Aunt Brianna West has set up a fund at Wyoming Community Bank in Riverton under the name “Macey Bowlsby’s Children Fund.” West said the rescued children are fighting for their lives. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Family Says Brother of Deceased Woman Saved Children From Riverton House Fire

The uncle of two young children rescued from a fatal house fire in Riverton also tried to save their mother—his sister—who did not survive, family and police say. The fire broke out around 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the 600 block of North Broadway Avenue, drawing a chaotic response from neighbors, law enforcement, and firefighters.

The Riverton Police Department initially reported that “good Samaritan” bystanders rushed into the home and pulled the children to safety. But on Friday morning, police said they had learned that it was actually the children’s uncle—the brother of the deceased woman—along with another man who pulled the children from the home through a window. “The children were trying to get out a window,” RPD Chief Eric Hurtado said.

Neighbor Bert Adcock, who lives two houses south, saw the woman’s brother screaming as he broke a window. Smoke streamed out. “I told Dan, ‘My God, the house is on fire, we’ve got to go over there,’” she recalled. Numerous people converged on the scene. Adcock said enough people gathered to carry two children out of the home and place them on the ground. The children, described as preschool or toddler age, suffered burns and were flown to another facility for medical care.

Another neighbor, Lisa Cook, who lives directly north, saw the fire through her kitchen window. She grabbed a fire blanket and rushed inside, but a wind pitched flames up a curtain, forcing her to shut the door. She then threw a garden hose over the fence. Cook said she heard the children’s brother yelling, “My sister! My sister’s still inside.” Bowlsby was retrieved from the home but died after being transported to a hospital.

Fremont County Sheriff Ryan Lee, wearing a cowboy hat and no uniform, arrived on scene, vaulted a fence, and rushed into the burning home. Undersheriff Mike Hutchison confirmed Deputy Larry Holladay transported at least one child to the hospital. Cook described the family as “adorable,” recalling that Bowlsby had been letting the children hammer tree stumps in the front yard to make planting circles for flowers. “Never failed to greet me or ask me how my day was,” Cook said.

Aunt Brianna West has set up a fund at Wyoming Community Bank in Riverton under the name “Macey Bowlsby’s Children Fund.” West said the rescued children are fighting for their lives. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.