Community comes together to mourn victims of Bellevue fire

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BELLEVUE —

A wounded community continues to mourn the five lives lost during a fire that killed two parents and their three children.

Sunday evening, doors were open to anyone at Center of Bellevue Church who wanted to sing, pray or shed tears for five victims who lost their lives in the devastating fire.

Grief counselors were on hand at both Avalon Elementary and Bellevue Elementary as students returned to the school for the first time since the fire.

"They were a great family that taught principles, values to their kids and model parents," said John Primrose, principal of Bellevue Elementary. 

Primrose said the loss has been tough of students at both schools because a lot of people knew the family.

The five victims died after having been rescued from the blaze, which was reported just after 9:30 p.m. Friday in the 400 block of Roosevelt Avenue.

The children were identified Saturday morning as 11-year-old Noah Lasch, 6-year-old Kayley Lasch and 4-year-old Hannah Lasch. Their mother has been identified as 38-year-old Angela Lasch.

The father of the children and husband of Angela Lasch, 41-year-old Stephen Lasch, died Saturday afternoon.

"We've encouraged the kids to go home and talk to their Mom and Dad.  I think that is basically the first line we like to have the kids discuss with because I think open communication between the parents and the child is very important in any event," said Sharon Trimber, a guidance counselor. 

Dozens attended Sunday’s prayer service organized by a pray group of seven local pastors.

Pastor Frank Tillman Jr. said that the community needs to band together to give direction and purpose to the families of tragedies.

"They need to know there are people out there that love them and want to walk beside them in brotherly love," said Kenneth Cleveland of Salvation Army.

More than 100 people attended a vigil Saturday night, including relatives of the victims and other friends.

The vigil started at 6 p.m. at the Northgate Alumni Stadium behind Bellevue Elementary, where one of the children attended school.

Channel 11 talked to the sister of Angela Lasch, who said she is comforted by the fact Angela is with her family.

“By the time it got to the end, my sister was the last one,” she said. “And my light is that she can be with her family. She would never want to live without them. So it gave us comfort when everybody else was already gone that she’ll still be able to see them all.”

Kayley Lasch’s first grade teacher spoke at the vigil and read a recent entry from the little girl’s school journal.

“I love my mommy because she hugs and kisses me,” the journal said. “I love my daddy because he loves me too.”

Angela Lasch’s mother also spoke and said the family will get through this ordeal together.

“I feel such a loss right now but I feel such a gain in knowing that…they have that blessed home, that eternal home that we all have,” she said. 

The Northgate School District released a statement Saturday that said grief counselors will be at schools Monday for any students or staff who might need them.

"We are saddened to announce that the Northgate community suffered a great loss last night as a horrible fire took the lives of members of a Bellevue family. ... Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family and all affected by this tragedy,” the statement said.