Thanksgiving Tragedy: Siblings Rylee, Connor, and Alena Kannin Killed in Kenosha Apartment Fire; Father Josh Kannin Hospitalized as Investigators Seek Cause

A devastating Thanksgiving night fire in Kenosha, Wisconsin has left three young siblings dead and their father hospitalized, according to local officials.

Firefighters responded to a multi-family apartment building near 52nd Street and 43rd Avenue around 10:40 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 27. Crews arrived to find heavy smoke and flames rising from the unit, the Kenosha Fire Department said.

Inside, 10-year-old Rylee Kannin and 9-year-old Connor Kannin were discovered and pronounced dead at the scene. Their younger sister, 7-year-old Alena Kannin, was airlifted via Flight For Life to a nearby hospital but succumbed to her injuries late Friday morning.

Their father, Joshua “Josh” Kannin, survived but remains hospitalized due to smoke inhalation, according to TMJ4.

Fire Contained, but Unit Destroyed
Fire crews were able to stop the blaze from spreading beyond the Kannin family’s apartment, bringing the flames under control within roughly 35 minutes. While the affected unit is now uninhabitable, officials confirmed no other residents were injured and adjoining apartments sustained minimal damage, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Thanksgiving Tragedy: Siblings Rylee, Connor, and Alena Kannin Killed in Kenosha Apartment Fire; Father Josh Kannin Hospitalized as Investigators Seek Cause

The tight-knit community is grieving deeply.

“All the kids here from this complex all play together. They all know each other. We all fight like we’re a giant family,”
said resident MiguelAngel Cordova, describing the immense heartbreak shared by neighbors.

Cause of Fire Remains Unknown
Investigators have not yet determined whether the apartment’s smoke alarms were functioning at the time. Officials say this remains a critical part of the inquiry, especially after a photojournalist on scene reported hearing an alarm somewhere in the building—though not necessarily from the Kannin unit.

The cause of the blaze is still under investigation and may take weeks to determine. Kenosha police are assisting fire officials in the ongoing effort.

A GoFundMe has been launched to support the Kannin family in the aftermath of the tragedy.