A firefighter's 8-year-old daughter was killed by a falling tree Tuesday night while she was sleeping in her bedroom in Otis, Lincoln County fire officials said.
Zaylee Schlecht, the daughter of North Lincoln Fire and Rescue District firefighter Ryan Schlecht, was in her bedroom with her younger sister when strong winds toppled a tree onto her home about 11:15 p.m., fire spokesman Capt. Jim Kusz said.
Zaylee's father was one of the firefighters who responded to the call, Kusz said. The volunteer firefighter was dispatched from his home to help a child trapped under debris. He likely knew it was one of his children as soon as he saw the address, where his daughter and three siblings lived with their mother.
"It's like someone reading off my address and telling me there's a problem," Kusz said.
At least 18 firefighters used chainsaws to cut through the tree and free Zaylee, who was initially trapped in the home, Kusz said.