The head men's golf coach at Bellarmine University was killed in a fire at a three-story condominium in the Highlands early Wednesday, according to authorities.

Ernest W. Denham, 75, was pronounced dead just after 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Jefferson County Coroner's Office. A cause of death is pending.

Denham, who went by "Ernie," was preparing to start his 18th season at the helm of the Bellarmine golf program, according to a biography on the Bellarmine Athletics website.

Prior to his time at Bellarmine, Denham was the head men's golf coach at the University of Louisville for 12 seasons, according to a news release from Bellarmine Athletics on Denham's passing.

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"The entire Bellarmine community is shocked and saddened by this tragedy," said Bellarmine Athletic Director Scott Wiegandt in the release. "Ernie Denham was a beloved member of the golf community and will be mourned by many people, not only here at Bellarmine, but across the state and nation. We ask for thoughts and prayers in this time of loss."

Maj. Bobby Cooper, a Louisville Division of Fire spokesman, said firefighters responded about 12:45 a.m. Wednesday to the fire at the 12-unit condominium in the 2100 block of Village Drive.

Cooper added it took crews approximately four minutes to arrive on scene.

The fire was started when a lit candle was accidentally knocked onto a comforter in a first-floor unit, Cooper said.

Denham died in the fire and was found on the third floor, Cooper said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two people escaped through a window on the second floor and were taken to area hospitals, Cooper said. Another resident was rescued by fire crews and taken to a hospital.

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The conditions of the rescued individuals are unknown, Cooper said.

It took 29 firefighters 18 minutes to bring the fire under control, and the incident caused "significant" smoke and fire damage throughout the building, Cooper said.

Initial reports indicated that smoke detectors alerted the residents of the condominium to the fire.

No firefighters suffered injuries, Cooper said.

Brian O'Neill, the president of the union representing firefighters, said Denham's death may have been prevented if more firefighters had been able to quickly respond to the emergency.

O'Neill noted the fire department's decision to replace existing ladder Truck 7 and Engine 11 companies at the 1025 Rubel Ave. station in the Highlands — a decision made in response to citywide budget cuts — took effect earlier this month.

The Rubel Station trucks were replaced with a "quint," which has the capabilities of both a firetruck and fire engine but is "lumbering" and slower to arrive at scenes, O'Neill said.

"This is the type of thing that we exactly warned against. Our job is predicated on proper staffing and getting as many staffers to the scene as possible," O'Neill said.

O'Neill said crews from the Telesqurt 20 station at 1735 Bardstown Road were the first to arrive at the Village Drive fire. If more firefighters were still stationed at the Rubel Avenue station, he said a death may have been prevented Wednesday.

"You need (crews performing) search and rescue, ventilation and others putting out the fire," O'Neill said. "We didn't have enough people."

Among Denham's accomplishments at Bellarmine were leading the Knights to the finals of the NCAA National Championship in 2010, 2013 and 2016.

As the Bellarmine Athletics news release noted, Denham was "perhaps prouder of his team's academic prowess."

The 2017-18 Bellarmine men's golf team was named as the "Academic National Champion" by the Golf Coaches Association of America, and 14 different golfers for Denham earned All-America Scholar honors from the Golf Coaches Association of America.

Besides his time coaching at the collegiate level, Denham served as executive director of Kentucky Golf Association and Kentucky Section PGA starting in 1977, a role he held for 11 years.

The Louisville native graduated from Seneca High School and earned a bachelor's degree in math from the University of Louisville, where he also played golf for the Cardinals.

Denham also earned a master's degree from the University of Kentucky.

Funeral and memorial service arrangements are pending, according to Bellarmine University.

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