Father Of Muskogee Children Killed In Fire Says Candle Started Flames

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) -- The man who escaped a house fire in Muskogee that killed his two young sons says one of the boys threw a candle to start the fire.<br/><br/>The fire Wednesday killed 3-year-old

Friday, December 8th 2006, 8:45 am

By: News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) -- The man who escaped a house fire in Muskogee that killed his two young sons says one of the boys threw a candle to start the fire.

The fire Wednesday killed 3-year-old Jerry Brooks and 5-year-old Daniel Price.

Antonio Brooks told police he was taking a bath when his youngest son said the older boy was playing with a candle.

Brooks says he then checked on the older boy and asked him what he was holding behind his back and the child threw the candle into a sofa which caught fire.

Brooks says he sent the boys to a bedroom as he tried to put out the fire, then he was hit by falling debris as the fire got out of control. He says he went outside and broke windows trying to get the children but couldn't find them.

Both boys died of smoke inhalation.

Muskogee Fire Marshal Toby Webb says much of what Brook said is consistent with what investigators found.