Fundraiser planned for victims killed in New Castle house fire

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Family and friends of the victims of a deadly house fire in New Castle earlier this year are raising money for a special tribute.

Jenna Dale, 4, and her grandpa Michael Dale were killed in the fire.

Darla Dale, Michael’s wife and Jenna’s grandma, came home from work to find the house on fire.

“I ran into the house and it was so smokey and I hollered for them and they didn’t answer so I thought maybe they got out,” she said.

She found Jenna.

“I found her by her hair. And I just pulled her hair and got her arms and stuff and pulled her out the window,”

But she couldn’t find her husband.

“They say he maybe tried to get up and from the carbon monoxide and from the smoke and stuff he fell to the floor,” she said. “They say he was laying like he was praying. He was on his knees.”

Brayden Dale lost both his dad and daughter that day.

“It broke my heart,” he said, “She loved preschool, she loved the church.”

The fundraiser will be at their church, Chicago Corner Church just outside of New Castle, where they will honor both Jenna and Michael’s lives.

“It means everything, just the fact that my daughter’s name is going to live on through the church that she loved,” Brayden said.

“It just means that even though she’s gone, that the kids will play on that playground will know the meaning of the playground, ya know? And she will live on forever,” added Darla.

A memorial ride to raise money for the playground is planned for Saturday.

Registration for the ride starts at 10 a.m. at the Chug a Lug Pub in Cambridge City. Kick stands will go up at noon. The ride is $15 per motorcycle or car and $5 per passenger.