Smoldering ashtray may have started fatal Oklahoma City fire

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Contents from an ashtray may have started the fire that killed three children and left their mother with critical burns, fire officials said.<br><br>The smoldering contents were thrown

Friday, April 30th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Contents from an ashtray may have started the fire that killed three children and left their mother with critical burns, fire officials said.

The smoldering contents were thrown from an ashtray into a kitchen trash container. The items ignited about 1:30 AM Tuesday, Deputy Fire Chief James Fullingim said Thursday.

Garrett McClure, 5; NaKayla McClure, 4; and Ariana Clarkson, 18 months; died of smoke inhalation inside the east Norman apartment.

The children's mother, Natisha McClure remained in critical condition Wednesday night at Integris Baptist Medical Center's burn unit in Oklahoma City.

The 23-year-old suffered burns and smoke inhalation.

Arrangements are being coordinated by Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home of Del City, officials there confirmed Thursday.

The blaze melted a smoke detector in the hallway of the apartment, but Fullingim said investigators so far "have found no indication that it failed to operate."

The four occupants apparently were asleep when the blaze began, he said.

"We are not speculating as to why the victims were unable to escape the residence," he said.

The fire has been ruled accidental, Fullingim said.

The children were pronounced dead of smoke inhalation at Norman Regional Hospital.