Fire At Tulsa Group Home Displaces 10 Women

Chris Wright, News On 6

TULSA,Oklahoma -- A house fire leaves ten women looking for a new home for the holidays.

Tulsa Fire crews were called to the home just before 3:30 p.m. in the 3500 block of South Yale.

Fortunately none of the ten women were inside the group home at the time of the fire. But many are already dealing with tough situations, and they may now have to endure another one

The members of Courage Too, Sober Living for Women, were not at home when the fire was discovered. They returned to find their group home engulfed in flames.

"We're just waiting on investigators to give us an actual cause of what happened. As you can see by the smoke and flames, it was a pretty good fire going," said Tulsa Fire Captain Tim Smallwood.

The fire department says the house is not a total loss, but it's pretty close. At the very least, the women will be spending Christmas somewhere else.

"We will make sure that their holidays and their clothing and their needs are met certainly very sufficiently," said Family Children Services Director Mimi Tarrasch.

Tarrasch says these are tough women who are no strangers to adversity, and she believes Tulsans will lend a helping hand during the holiday season.

"The Tulsa community always rises to the occasion of providing the best support mechanism in place. They will do so with this crisis as well," tarrasch said.

Tarrasch says while tough, considering that no one was injured, the fire may be a holiday blessing in disguise.

"I think this Christmas is going to be wonderful for all of them. One, they're in a good place, and two, we will make sure they're taken care of and they will be with their children during the Christmas holiday." Tarrasch said.

Family Children Services says the Red Cross is also helping locate temporary housing for these women until a more permanent solution can be found.