RINGLING, OK -- Three people, including two teenage girls, are dead after an early morning house fire in the 300 block of First Street in Ringling.
A fire at home in Ringling claimed three lives Monday. Officials say the fire started early Monday morning while at least two of the victims were still in bed. Shelby Levins talked to neighbors at the scene who say they are shocked by this tragedy.
For the two teenage girls who lived inside the house, this was supposed to be their first day back to school after winter break. But officials say once flames broke out at 4 a.m., the girls, along with another relative, never made it out of the home.
Not much remains of the house at in the 300 block of First Street in Ringling. Terrie Blackwell lives right next door. She said she is still shaken from her neighbors' loss.
"When you go to sleep at night you don't think that you're house will catch fire and you'll wake up and lose family members," Ms. Blackwell says.
Ms. Blackwell says the fire was so intense she couldn't even feel the cold as she stood outside Monday morning.
"It's so hard to explain. You're standing there helpless, and you're thinking about those kids in there, and you're thinking you can't do anything."
Ringling volunteer firefighters, along with neighboring departments, battled the blaze for almost an hour, working well into the afternoon putting out hot spots.
Investigators are calling the fire accidental at this point.
"From getting the statements from the mom, they were trying to stay warm. They were using the stove to provide heat and try to stay warm," Agent Judah Sheppard of the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal's Office says.
Now officials warn other families this method of heating could have tragic results.
"Don't use your stoves for heat. Don't use electric blankets and cover them up over, they're meant to be on top. Don't over use electric strips. Make sure when you're using space heaters they're the new modern type when they tip over, they'll shut off." Agent Sheppard said.
Blackwell says her thoughts are with her neighbors this evening, and she hopes no other family ever has to endure this kind of heartbreak.
"You've got to practice safely precautions and pray you never have to go through what they're going through. That house will be cleaned up. But those girls and that man won't come back."
Oklahoma state fire officials say the total number of house fire deaths this week now stands at 6 in the KXII-TV Oklahoma viewing area alone.
Republished with permission of KXII-TV.
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