Woman, 2 Children Killed In Porum House Fire

A woman and two children are dead after a fire in Muskogee County. It happened in Porum, near Lake Eufaula.

The State Fire Marshal's Office and investigators say the children who died were an 11-month-old and a two-year-old.

The State Fire Marshal says 21-year-old Tiffany Fraley and two children died.

News On 6 was told 29-year-old Kevin Fraley survived, but has second degree burns over 18 percent of his body.

Investigators believe he was injured trying to save his children, who were sleeping in the room where the fire started.

Porum Fire Chief Trampas Tripp says this type of fire is devastating for his department.

“It's very hard because we all have kids and all your hoping is that you can get there in just enough time to get them out. But that's not the case; we wasn't able to get there in time,” said Tripp.

In a post on the Porum Fire Department's Facebook page, they say Kevin Fraley is a firefighter and was burned trying to save his family.

In another post, they say a benefit account has been created for Fraley. Donations can be made at Armstrong Bank under the name Porum Fire Fund for Kevin Fraley. They say the department will also host a bean/chili benefit lunch with a silent auction on Sunday, January 13, 2018, at the Porum High School cafeteria at noon.

This small town is tight-knit and everyone knows everyone.

“It’s very difficult when you do this in your hometown and you do know everyone and you see them in the store and your kids play ball with them and you played ball with them in school,” said Tripp. “It makes it that much more difficult."

Chief Tripp says while the State Fire Marshal hasn't determined the cause, there were several small heaters in the home and that can be concerning.

“We were just talking about it when this cold front was forecasted to come in because every year we have fires related to heating sources,” he stated.

While investigators work to figure out exactly what happened, the community will now have to come together to help a grieving father.

“Your small communities, they are always the first ones to step up and help everybody,” said Tripp. “I guarantee there will be something come up to help this family in their time of need."

Investigators say it's too early to tell what specifically caused the fire but they hope to have that cause nailed down soon.