Tulsa Man Killed In House Fire Identified

A man is dead and three others - including two firefighters - were injured after an overnight house fire in Tulsa. It happened at about 3 a.m. Sunday near 4th and Garnett.

The man killed was 57-year-old Edwin Thornton, according to Captain Stan May, of Tulsa Fire Department.

Assistant Fire Chief Doug Woods said crews were called to a home in the 10500 block of East 4th Street and found heavy smoke and fire coming from the north side of the house.

Two residents had made it out but told firefighters a third man was still inside.

"Firefighters found the third victim in a closet behind the front door," Woods said Sunday morning. The assistant chief said they believe the man accidentally went into the closet instead of out the front door and was apparently overcome by smoke.

"For whatever reason, he didn't come back out," Woods said.

Firefighters tried to revive Thornton, but he was pronounced dead at a hospital emergency room, according to the assistant chief. One of the other two residents was treated for second degree burns.

Two firefighters were also injured, falling on the ice while battling the fatality fire. One bruised ribs and the other broke an ankle, Woods said.

Woods said the firefighters were expected to be OK.