Northwest Oklahoma City neighborhood holds candlelight vigil remembering lives lost in fire

It's been more than a week since a house fire in a Northwest Oklahoma City neighborhood claimed the lives of three people. Three others survived including a two-year-old who is still hospitalized with burns over 27% of his body.  

Sunday night neighbors stood together at a vigil organized by its homeowner association president Samantha Young.  

They lit and held candles as they remembered the lives lost in the deadly fire.   

Some whose hearts are still heavy.  

“The sickness in your gut just takes over,” said 30-year resident Michael Harris whose heart is still heavy.   

Firefighters say six people were inside this home near Northwest 23rd and Villa when a fire erupted in the early morning hours. 

Unfortunately for the family, there were no working smoke detectors in the house.

 Ashley Morton and her son, Oliver, died in the fire but her daughters, Lydia and Sophia escaped, jumping out of an upstairs window.  

Richard Eubanks, the fiance of Morton, and their two-year-old son, whom they call Peanut, were hospitalized. Eubanks died and Peanut remains in the hospital.  

Young said, “Talking to your child, not only about death but about the death of another child has been probably one of the hardest things on us, as parents, as a community.”

She added this tragedy has also had a significant impact on how they approach safety.   

“One thing that we've discussed in our neighborhood meetings, most recently, is to raise awareness about smoke detectors and to reach out to the local fire department and maybe have someone come out and talk to our neighborhood. Offer that as a resource. You know, that we can give out free smoke detectors, for our residents,” added Young.  

The City of Oklahoma Fire Department offers free smoke detectors to homeowners and landlords. They will also come to your home and install them to ensure they are in proper locations throughout the house.