Father, Son Killed In Mayes County House Fire

Craig Day, News On 6

MAYES COUNTY, Oklahoma -- A house fire near Adair killed a father and his eight-year-old son early Wednesday morning.

When firefighters arrived at the mobile home off County Road 428, they knew there were likely two people inside. They tried desperately to get to them.

"They were in the part that was fully involved when we arrived," said Diamond Head Fire Department Chief Frank Kotoff.

Investigators say the fire started in a living room/office area on one end of the home and spread quickly.

"The far back corner from here. You're standing on the southeast corner, so it would be the northwest corner," Lt. Albert McKee, Mayes County Deputy, said.

Tim Reed, 53, and his son Skyler, 8, died in the fire. Skyler's body was discovered in a hallway, his dad was found nearby

"It's a bad deal when it's an adult, but it's a lot worse when you have to deal with a child that small, it's just a terrible way to end their life," McKee said.

Relatives say Tim Reed was a mechanic who loved motorcycles. His wife was at work when the fire started.

"People out here handling this emergency knew him personally, knew the family and that makes it real hard," Chief Kotoff said.

Skyler was a fun-loving, energetic boy who loved animals and swimming. He would have started the second grade on Thursday.

"It's just terrible for an eight year old kid," McKee said.

Finding victims, especially a child, is hard on the Diamond Head volunteer firefighters.

Mayes County Fatality Fire

"The two firefighters that found him initially and came and got me," Chief Kotoff said. "They're both fathers, and one is a grandfather, and that makes it hard."

The state fire marshal's office is working to determine what caused the fire. The house didn't have working smoke detectors.

The family is heartbroken. They say we should all hug our children and grandchildren tighter and cherish them even more.

Pleasant Hope Baptist Church will take up a collection to help the family with expenses at their services a week from Sunday. That's August 28th.

The church is located Northwest of Adair.