Oklahoma House Fire Kills 7 Family Members
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
A fire caused by an electrical problem in a refrigerator swept through a home early Thursday, killing seven family members who were overcome by smoke before they could escape, officials said.
A neighbor reported the fire at 5 a.m. Emergency crews who arrived minutes later found the one-story house in flames, Assistant City Manager Mike Brice said.
Brice said the home had no working smoke detectors. One of those killed was found in a bathroom. The others were found in bedrooms. Some were near windows, apparently trying to escape before they were overcome, he said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Firefighters pulled all seven victims from the burning house but were unable to resuscitate any of them. Investigators later traced the fire to a refrigerator fan motor that apparently overheated, Brice said.
"It is stunning to all of us when you lose this many people," he said. "It's a real tragedy."
Chickasha is a city of 17,000 about 40 miles southwest of Oklahoma City. Brice said it was the town's deadliest fire to date.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The victims were identified as Thomas Raby, 33, Cindy McCurley, 34, and their children: Cicily, 12; Casey, 9; Casandra, 8; Chelsea 7; and Sidney, 1.