Neighbor Recounts Helping Woman Who Died In Barnsdall House Fire

A house fire claimed the life of a Osage County woman Wednesday morning. Barnsdall Police aren't releasing much information, but neighbors say the woman was burned from head-to-toe.

Investigators have not released the victim's name, but neighbors told News On 6 she went by "Petey."

One neighbor was very emotional as she recalled trying to save Petey's life.

Yellow caution tape surrounded the Barnsdall home. Wednesday afternoon.

From outside, there's little burn evidence, except some charred insulation hanging from a window.

"I opened up the door and the smoke was rolling out under the eaves and you could hear the wood popping and I yelled, 'Are you all right?' Then I yelled, 'Is anybody there?' And she was telling me, 'Help me, help me,'" one neighbor said.

She said she ran next door and couldn't believe what she saw. The neighbor used a white towel to put out the flames.

"She was talking the whole time. I got the fire out, and at that time another gentleman had pulled up," she said.

That was Carl Shepard. He said he heard an explosion and immediately ran to the sound.

Reporter Ashlei King: "What made you run toward that building?"
Carl Shepard: "Afraid there might be some kids or somebody in it. That's just natural instinct."

But when he got there, he found his co-worker, Petey.

"I picked her up and carried her out, because it was still burning," Shepard said.

Shepard said there was thick smoke billowing from the house and flames shooting out the window. He said it's hard to talk about what happened and even harder dealing with the fact Petey didn't survive.

"She was real nice, real friendly," Shepard said.

Neighbors say Petey only stayed at the home a couple nights a week.

Petey was flown to a hospital, where police say she later died. The State Fire Marshal is now investigating the fire.