RV Blaze Claims Three Oklahoma Children

[DriVer]

RV Blaze Claims Three Oklahoma Children

Matt Patterson - The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City
Posted: Wed, 01/05/2011 - 12:52am
Updated: Wed, 01/05/2011 - 07:26am

Jan. 04--DEL CITY -- Three children are dead and their mother is in the hospital after a fire swept through a recreational vehicle parked behind a house in Del City this morning.

Del City Fire Department Maj. Brandon Pursell said the department received a frantic 911 call about 11:15 a.m. from the mother of the children. The fire was at 3333 SE 16.

Pursell said the victims were a 4-year-old male, 3-year-old female and a 1-year-old female. The husband and father was at work at the time of the fire.

Pursell said the boy would have turned 5 on Wednesday.

Their mother was taken to Baptist Medical Center with burns to her arm and neck, but was communicating with firefighters at the scene. Her injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

Pursell said the family was staying in the RV parked in the backyard because the house was being remodeled. The RV is believed to be a 30-foot, late 1970s model Apollo. He said it wasn't clear if there was an electrical source from the house running into the trailer, or a heat source being used inside the RV.

"The crews got here with a very heavy fire load inside," Pursell said. "They tried to get a knock down of the flames and to rescue the children but unfortunately they (the children) were overcome."

Neighbor Elizabeth McNally said she saw smoke rising from the backyard of the home after her dog began barking wildly. McNally said she attends the same church as the family.

"We called each other sweetie," McNally said. "He would run up to me and give me a hug whenever I saw him at church. They were all real sweet kids. It's just so sad. I'm praying for them."

Pursell said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The names of the children and the mother have not been released.

[depchief]

A firefighters worst response. Extremely Tragic

[Fred and Bonnie]

I may be wrong, but parked RV fires are becoming all too common. My belief is that more people who have lost their homes are using RV's without much operating knowledge or safety practices.

fred

[RV Wizard]

This is indeed so sad. Our prayers go out to their friends and family. Please check safety detectors and if they are more than 5 or 6 years old, replace them. Stay safe.

[Wayne M]

Tragic!

[RickO]

Just horrible.

[bullheaded]

One more reason for each person to know where and how the escape windows work. RIP

[Rick Long]

I don't think I can go work on my motorhome today.... I don't think I could look at it. I take care of my 1 ½ year old grand daughter and the thought of anything happening to her....
by for now

[bdpreece]

How sad. Our prayers go out to them.

[Ray,IN]

There are so many variables involved that no-one can answer all the questions about this tragedy. It would be easy to second-guess but irresponsible to do so. Perhaps the greatest tragedy is that a very small minority of people know that it takes less than 10 minutes for a full-sized mobile home to be completely engulfed in flames-beginning at ignition time. This time frame can be greatly shortened in a smaller RV. Our only solution is to plan ahead in hopes of reducing the risk of death or injury. The very first action is to GET OUT! I've only seen two fire deaths and hope to never see another.