2006 — July 20, Residential Home Fire (over-heated refrigerator), Chickasha, OK — 7

— 7  Badger/NFPA. Catastrophic Multiple-Death Fires for 2006 (NFPA No. MDS06). 2007.

— 7  Fox News/Associated Press. “Oklahoma House Fire Kills 7 Family Members.” 7-20-2006.

 

Narrative Information

 

Badger/NFPA:  “The third [largest residential fire of 2006] fire killed seven people, one of them a child under age 6. The building was a one-story, single-family dwelling of unprotected wood-frame construction with no smoke alarms. Very little information was reported other than that the fire occurred when an overheated refrigerator motor ignited nearby combustibles.”  (Badger, Stephen G. Catastrophic Multiple-Death Fires for 2006 (NFPA No. MDS06). Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection Association, Fire Analysis and Research Division, Sep 2007.)

 

Fox News/AP:  “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.

 

“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….

 

“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.

 

“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.” (Fox News/Associated Press. “Oklahoma House Fire Kills 7 Family Members.” 7-20-2006.)

 

Sources

 

Badger, Stephen G. Catastrophic Multiple-Death Fires for 2006 (NFPA No. MDS06). Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection Association, Fire Analysis and Research Division, Sep 2007. Accessed 7-8-2013: http://www.nfpa.org/~/media/files/research/nfpa%20reports/overall%20fire%20statistics/catastrophic2006.ashx

 

Fox News/Associated Press. “Oklahoma House Fire Kills 7 Family Members.” 7-20-2006. Accessed 7-9-2013 at: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,204716,00.html