Family Of Seven Dies in Chickasha House Fire

Thursday, July 20th 2006, 9:56 am

By: News On 6

CHICKASHA, Okla. (AP) -- A fire caused by an electrical problem in a refrigerator swept through a home early Thursday, killing seven family members who were overcome by smoke before they could escape, officials said.

A neighbor reported the fire at 5 AM and police arrived two minutes later to find flames shooting from the front of the one-story wood-frame structure, a mile south of the downtown area, Assistant City Manager Mike Brice said.

Firefighters quickly arrived and removed the seven people, none of whom had any vital signs. Resuscitation efforts were attempted without success.

Brice said the home had no working smoke detectors. One of those killed was found in a bathroom. The others were found in bedrooms. Some were near windows, apparently trying to escape before they were overcome.

This was the deadliest fire ever in this town of 17,000 people, about 40 miles southwest of Oklahoma City, Brice said.

"It is stunning to all of us when you lose this many people," he said. "It's a real tragedy."

The fire was traced to a fan motor in a refrigerator in the kitchen.

"The fan motor apparently seized up and overheated," he said. "It's rare."

Those killed in the fire were identified as a couple and their children: Thomas Raby, 33; Cindy McCurley, 34; Cicily, 12; Casey, 9; Casandra, 8; Chelsea 7, and Sidney, 1.

Some suburbs of Oklahoma City have been having trouble with water pressure because of a break in a water main earlier this week, but Brice said this was not a factor in fighting the fire. A fire hydrant 50 feet from the house was used to fight the blaze.

The home, which was extensively damaged but is still standing, was in a residential area that is about 50 years old.

Neighbors emerged from their homes early Thursday to watch the firefighting and rescue effort before many left the area to go to work.