April 9, 2019 Issue, Page 1 of 10

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ww Since 1901 EDITION Tuesday, April 9, 2019 Efforts underway to help vi ctims of fire By Don Munsch in Elk City, worked with be taken to the Elk City Fire By Don Munsch Editor Sharon, and Morgan said Department, 303 W. Fifth St. Editor Randall had worked for him in Elk City. ‘The community has at the store before he retired. Carlisle said new clothes Smoke detectors can save stepped forward to help an Sharon is the produce man- are easier to sort and lives. Elk City Fire Chief Elk City family who lost ager at the store. Erin was navigate through than worn Billy Word said they can loved ones and their home to the Lees’ daughter. The fam- clothing, but he was quick serve the same life-saving a Wednesday fire. ily lost everything it owned, to say chaplains appreciate function as a seatbelt in a Erin Lee and Jamie and Morgan appreciates see- the generosity of the public car. Crawford, both 32, and their ing the community helping when they have given used Elk City Fire Department son Alexander, 2 1/2, died in the family, he said. clothes in the past. officials said it’s critical the blaze, which occurred at “We feel like we're such a Monetary donations may for every home to possess 1920 W. Seventh St., accord- small-knit store - not many be made at InterBank, and smoke detectors. ing to information from Elk of us work here ~ it’s like part those donations may be made “You need one in every City PD Chief Eddie Hol- of our family, too,” Morgan under the account of Great bedroom and one in the land. The state medical ex- said. Plains Baptist Association. hallway,” Assistant Chief aminer’s office directed their Morgan did not know the InterBank is located at 1620 bodies be sent to Oklahoma City for autopsies. victims who died in the fire, but he calls Randall is a W. Third in Elk City. “Not having been told it’s Billy Sizemore said. “Byery room would be Farm & Home Expo great,” Word said. Hunter Rule, 2, of Richardson, Texas, pretends to ride Aclothing drive and just “great, great guy who atotal loss, but most of the Sizemore said new hous- bank account for monetary “doesn’t know a stranger.” time in a fire like that, you’ve ing and home construction on alawn mower at at the Southwest Farm & Home donations have been estab- “Sharon is the same way,” lost everything,” said Carl- Expo Saturday at the Elk City Convention Center. are required to have one lished. United Supermarkets Morgan said. “She’s a won- isle, one ofthree chaplains in every bedroom and one Hunter's dad, Joe, and grandmother, Deannie Rule of location in Elk City, where derful, wonderful woman, at the fire department, who Elk City, stood nearby. The expo concluded Sunday. in the hallway, but houses one of the surviving victims and a hard worker. They’re include Danny Ringer and don’t need one in the ‘Staff photo by Don Munsch. worked, also is working on both just great people, and Jase Hargrove. “What the kitchen. For rental proper- See more photos page 2. doing something to help the it’s a shame that things like fire doesn’t get, smoke gets.” ties, landlords are required family, said store manager this happen to people like Evion Johnson lives next by law to supply smoke David McGee. Randall and that or anybody.” door to the family and was detectors for residents’ Sharon Lee and their grand- Brandi Scheel, front end not home at the time of the All types domiciles. daughter, Isabell Squires, 12, assistant manager at the fire. She said her son, Chris “They are only required also lived at the home. Ran- United, said Erin worked in ‘Thomas, went over to the to have one, but they are re- dall escaped the fire, while the deli fora short while at house when he saw it had quired,” Sizemore said. Sharon and Isabell were the store. She said Erin and caught fire. He called 9-1-1. As ageneral rule, the Elk gone when the fire occurred. Jamie were “kind of quiet, “The older man, if it needed City Fire Department does The state fire marshal is but always polite and sweet.” hadn’thad been for my boy, not provide or install smoke investigating the scene to She also had kind words for he wouldn’t have got out,” detectors. determine the cause/origin Sharon and Randall Lee and Johnson said. “I’m glad he “Sometimes there are of the fire. The fire marshal Isabell and said the United was home.” smoke detectors available is being assisted by Elk City family loves the family and Clothing requested: through grants and things fire officials and Elk City po- that people are praying for Survivors and sizes: like that, and we do distrib- lice detectives, Holland said. them. Grandmother ute them then,” Word said. Preliminary findings at Elk City Fire Department 12 pants The fire department does the scene point to possible chaplains said monetary and Large tops have a few smoke detectors electrical issues in the home, clothing donations are being Grandfather available that First Nation- but no exact cause has been accepted for people who Pants 29 by 32 al Bank donated, and the determined. The mobile lived at the Elk City home, Shoe 10 1/2or 11 fire department can assist home had no working smoke said Elk City Fire Depart- Shirt medium or large people who do not have detectors, Holland said. ment chaplain Chris Carlisle. ‘Ty Morgan, meat depart- New clothing is being See Investigating page 2. See Smoke page 2. ment manager at United requested, and clothes may Festival to help fire departments to be held Sunday in Leedey Phlebotomist Michele Askins prepares to take blood from donor Steve August at a drive in Tulsa. Photo submitted by OBI By Don Munsch have helped. 29 counties responded to fered some kind of loss with Editor Donations will distributed __ the blaze, and they came equipment, Branson said. By Don Munsch among fire departments who from the wholestate.Two Other counties reported Editor Frank and Linda Laster fought the blaze last year and fire departments from both _losses, as well. are grateful for firefighters would welcomemoney for Texas and Kansas assisted at “My understanding is that Storm season means preparing for potentially dangerous who saved their home from needs, such as equipment the fire. any fire department that re- | weather events. the Rhea fire last year. that has yet to be replaced. “And that’s just what we sponded to the Rhea fire that It’s also a time for blood banks to ensure they are ready to “T really don’t think we know of,” she said. shows up to the benefit will meet needs, including when those storms hit and hospitals as the public give enough Impact offire She also said county work- receive some type of dona- must have adequate supplies of blood. credit to what these guys go The fire burned alittle ers from the surrounding tion,” Branson said, noting Emma Meyer, account consultant for Oklahoma Blood In- through onamoment’sno- more than 286,000 acres, and _areas arrived with dozers the money can be used for stitute in Oklahoma City, said there’s not a shortage of blood tice—no fear, you just doit,” some home-based businesses andgraterstohelp during any department purpose or now, but this is an important time ofyear because the area Frank Laster said. “It’s part were destroyed and 400c- _the fire. Trucking companies _ need. is heading into storm season. of the job.” cupied and 20 unoccupied donated water, and other Clinton firefighters Capt. “This time ofyear, things happen, storms happen, and The Lasters and others homes were destroyed, said entities stepped forwardto —_ Calvin Baggett and Lt. D.J. people need blood and people aren’t able to donate because in the area will gather at Lisa Branson, emergency help. Woodall fought the Rhea fire | of storms, and it can cause a lot of problems for us,” Meyer the Firefighters Apprecia- management director for Ofthe 40 homes that were last year. said. tion Festival from 5-9 p.m. Dewey County. Thousands of _ lost, around 90 percent of “Tt was pretty intense,” So she encourages people to donate now to prepare for Sunday at the Red BluffInn _cattle were lost. those people have either pur- Woodall said. anything that can happen. Having people donate after a Retreat in Leedey, 21338 E. “The National Weather chased a home or are build- “This one had to be one disaster is appreciated, but that does not help those who are 830 Road, for a benefit. Service had issued a[warn- ing now or have purchaseda _ofthe worst ones I’ve been in the hospital and need blood immediately. Monetary donations, ing]on April 11,”Branson mobile home. involved with,” Baggett said. “So we need to be proactive,” she said. “We do the Elk which are tax-deductible, are said. “They actually pre- But farmers are still are He said the fire’s path and _| City community drives almost every 56 days, which is how being accepted and raffles dicted the fire.” She said the _ suffering, what with all the wind direction created tough | often aperson can donate.” for different prizes, includ- | NWS alerted the publicthat _ livestock, fencing, barn,hay _challenges. Donors are being sought for the Elk City Community ing atrip to Colorado, willbe _ critical to extreme wildfire and machinery they losto “You couldn’t get in front Blood Drive, held from noon to 6 p.m. April 16 at the First held. Corporate sponsorships _ conditions existed. Dewey the fire. of [the fire] to stop it,” Baptist Church Activities Building, 1600 W. Country Club are available. The event will County was in the center of “Wedon'tevenhaveare- —_ Baggett said. Road. include food and live music. __ that forecast. cord of that here in my office, During an interview at ‘The drive is sponsored by the Oklahoma Blood Institute. More than 20 people and She said the fire started but I know it was phenom- Clinton Fire Department, Donors will receive a T-shirt in their choice of coral pink, or entities/businesseshave April 12 one mile north of enal,” she said. Frank Laster said he saw heather gray or sky blue. In the month of April, a drawing contributed to the event, said Rhea and burned about two firefighters at their best at will be held for a FlatSafe storm shelter, and people who Lisa Rice, volunteer for the weeks before the Oklahoma Fighting the fire the Rhea fire. donate at the blood drive next week will be entered into that festival who livesinRhea. Forestry Services thought For Dewey County, all She appreciates those who _it was under control. Some _seven fire departments suf- See Festival page 2. See Blood needed page 2. il Ill Ill UI Weather aI /5 4 8 Vol. 117, No. 27 Home delivery View online « sore las 4 34 » tomorrow . 75 cents, 10 pgs. 580.225.3000 ecdailynewsonline.com