Idaho National Guard to hold memorial for victims of cabin fire

The Idaho National Guard will hold a ceremony on Sunday for the victims of a Valley County cabin fire, all of whom were members of the Guard.

Four people died in the Donnelly house fire, believed to have been ignited by a propane fireplace.

The victims were Lt. Col. James “Jim” Harper III, 49, and his son, James “JJ” Harper IV, 14; and 1st Sgt. Erin Smith, 34, and her daughter, Autumn Smith, 7.

William “Mitch” Smith, 46, survived the fire.

“On behalf of the Idaho National Guard, it is with great sadness that I extend our deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those suffering from this recent and tragic loss,” wrote Maj. Gen. Gary L. Sayler in a news release on Wednesday. “As we work to fill the emptiness left by these four precious members of our community, our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones.”

The memorial will be held at 9 a.m. Sunday at the Gowen Field Memorial Park in Boise. Family, friends and all members of the Guard’s Idaho Military Division — past and present — are invited to attend.

“The Idaho National Guard family is here for all those touched by this loss. Our hearts are with them,” Sayler wrote.

This story was originally published July 5, 2017 at 10:42 PM with the headline "Idaho National Guard to hold memorial for victims of cabin fire."