Montgomery apartment fire victims remembered with balloon release
People are remembering those lost in a Montgomery apartment fire.
A fire burned a building at the Woodley Terrace Apartments on December 21. 64-year-old Johnny Payne, an 8-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl all died from the fire.
Neighbors and city leaders honored their lives with a balloon release.
“I can’t imagine losing someone during the Christmas holidays or the holidays period, so I know this is heavy on their heart,” Montgomery City Council member Oronde Mitchell, who helped organize the event, told Action 8 News. “That’s why we’re doing everything possible to see, can we give them some relief? We don’t want to forget about anybody that is lost. You know, like I said during this time, we should be coming together, going into ’26 with hopeful cheers, but we got some folks there who are crying right before New Year’s.”
Organizations like the American Red Cross and Mercy House have also been in the area, helping the residents who were displaced by the fire.
The River Region United Way is stepping in to help the survivors find new places to live. Click here to read more about those efforts and how you can help.
