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'None of them deserve to die like that': Support growing for Belleville fire victims as family grieves

The fire killed three men: a father and son, and a new father with a baby on the way. Four other family members escaped, including an infant.

BELLEVILLE, Ill. — The Belleville community is raising money for two families who lost their loved ones in a house fire.

A small memorial is growing outside of the house on South 13th Street in Belleville where a fire took the lives of 79-year-old George Pappas, his son, 39-year-old Pioquinto "PJ" Pappas, and 20-year-old Christopher Ellis. All three men lived at the home.

"None of them deserve to die like that. He was so sweet and so kind. Just a lovable person, just a lovable person. You couldn't help but love him," said Chris's aunt, Darlene Gamble.

George's wife and other son, Chris's pregnant girlfriend, Jazmine, and their 1-year-old son, Danté Ellis, all made it out safely.

"It seems so unreal, but it's real. It's real. I'm going to miss him," Gamble said.

Gamble said Jazmine and the baby jumped out of the second-floor window to escape the burning house and landed on top of a car. Besides some burns and bruises, Gamble said they are doing OK.

"She was scared. The first thing she thought about was her and her baby dying, and she thought quickly she had to do something," Gamble said.

Jazmine and Chris found out just a few days before that they were expecting a second child together. Gamble said it's heartbreaking news that he's gone.

"I know it's gonna be hard on her because it's a boyfriend, her kid's father, her grandfather, and her uncle. That has to be something like a nightmare. We're gonna miss them. So his son and the next baby will be here to carry on his legacy," said Gamble.

The Belleville Fire Department is still investigating the cause of this fire. Chief Stephanie Mills said it could take days until they learn new details. Investigators say most of the damage was in the kitchen.

The Belleville community is now rallying around both families. 

"They literally lost everything, everything in the fire," Gamble said.

The GoFundMe fundraiser set up to support the Pappas family has raised over $18,000.

Right now, the Ellis family is in need of donations, including clothes and diapers.

Chris's cousin set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help support the Ellis family.

The Ellis family said some of the immediate needs they're looking for to help Jazmine and Danté are:

  • Gently used or new clothing for a woman in size large (tops and bottoms).
  • Gently used or new clothing for a little boy in sizes 24 months to 2T.
  • Diapers (size 5).

Darlene Gamble said any contribution people can offer would mean so much. They're accepting donations to be dropped off at Rowan Tire & Auto Service at 1801 South Belt West in Belleville. George Pappas, who lost his dad and brother in the fire, works at the tire shop.

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