10-Year-Old Fighting For Life After Oklahoma City Fire That Killed His Grandmother

The Oklahoma City Fire Department continues to investigate the cause of a fire in which a grandmother was found dead and her grandson was left in critical condition.

The blaze happened just after 4 a.m. Thursday on Southwest 39th Street. Three people were inside the home: a grandmother, her 11-year-old granddaughter, and her 10-year-old grandson, said District Chief Scott Douglas, public information officer with the Oklahoma City Fire Department.

Douglas said the girl was able to go to a neighbor's home to seek help.

"Once he heard the little girl shouting, he opened the door and realized it was the neighbor child, and notified them that her house was on fire," Douglas said. "He quickly called 911."

While crews were able to save the 10-year-old boy and bring him to a hospital, his grandmother was pronounced dead at the scene, said Douglas.

"Anytime there's a fatality, the investigation is very lengthy," Douglas explained. "The tough thing is once we encounter a fatality inside, our firefighters quickly back out because we try to preserve as much of the scene as possible. We want to allow the homicide unit, crime scene investigation. We don't want to hinder the scene in any way."

Douglas said as of Thursday morning, investigators did not suspect foul play. 

The Fire Department also told News 9 the investigation into the cause of the blaze is ongoing and could take days. The fire started somewhere in the front of the home. But investigators were working to determine the exact location, the Fire Department said.

As for the surviving 10-year-old boy, he was in critical condition at last check, Douglas said.

Neighbor Gracie Kidd said she had brief interactions with the victim and her family some years ago.

"I had spoke to this lady here numerous times when she'd come to our garage sales, and I speak to her and her kids, and she was very nice, very nice, polite lady," said Kidd. "My sympathy goes out to the kids and to the family members that have lost their loved one."

An animal control officer also rescued a dog from the home that appeared to be badly burned.