Beloved Tri-Cities broadcaster loses home, pet in blaze. He’s also fighting cancer
The Tri-Cities community is rallying to support former KORD-FM broadcaster Ed Dailey and his family after his Benton City home erupted in flames.
The cause of the Thursday afternoon fire is still being investigated but the one-story home is a total loss, said Dennis Bates, assistant chief with Benton County Fire District 2.
Everyone escaped except for a pet.
“Ed and I are safe,” wrote his wife LaJay Dailey, in a Facebook post. “For those that don’t know, our home burned up in a fire this afternoon. Most everything is gone. We barely got out of the house. Dolly our poodle got out with us, but we lost Beebs and my heart hurts so bad for him.”
Ed Dailey is the beloved Tri-Cities broadcaster who spent 26 years with KORD-FM and worked as a radio broadcasting instructor at the Tri-Tech Skills Center in Kennewick. He also sang and did ministry work with Waymaker Ministries.
He’s been battling lymphoma for more than a year now, and was recently transitioned into hospice care due to his condition, according to first reports from 98.3 The Key Radio.
Dailey retired from the radio station in January, where he hosted the “Legends of Country” program every Sunday morning. The program was a local staple for Tri-City country music fans.
More than $3,500 was raised for the family over the weekend in a series of benefit performances and fundraisers, according to local country artist Jamie Buckley.
Thursday fire
Benton City firefighters first responded to calls of a fully engulfed house fire on the 1200 block of Irene Avenue about 3:20 p.m. on April 7.
Responders arrived within six minutes, Bates said. And, by then, family members had reportedly gotten Dailey out of the home.
Nearby buildings also were damaged, he said. Benton County sheriff’s deputies are still investigating what happened.
How to help
The Dailey family is accepting financial donations as they recover from this significant loss. Checks can be mailed to P.O Box 3804, Pasco, WA, 99302.
The family is also accepting donations through Numerica Credit Union. In person, ask for the Ed and Lajay Dailey Donation Account. And the family is on CashApp at $EdLajayDailey, and Venmo at @Ed-Dailey-6.
The family is not currently seeking help through GoFundMe. Readers should remain weary of online posts and fundraisers claiming to benefit the Dailey family.
