The devastated parents of three young children killed in a house fire on New Year’s day have spoken about the tragic loss.
Mayley Jean Redbird, who was just 22 months old, 3-year-old Gunner Ray Redbird and 4-year-old Amylah Dawn Redbird died when their bedroom went up in smoke, at the family’s El Reno home, Oklahoma.
‘We are in total devastation right now,’ said a tearful James Redbird and wife Kee Yanna Osage, as they addressed the press.
‘You can only imagine what it’s like to lose three children of your own. I just ask that the kind people continue to pray and keep us in your prayers as we do our best to lay our children to rest.’
Mayley Jean Redbird, who was just 22 months old, 3-year-old Gunner Ray Redbird and 4-year-old Amylah Dawn Redbird died when their bedroom went up in smoke
The fire broke out in the early hours of Monday. Fire crews say a space heater appeared to be at the center of the blaze but are still investigating the cause, News 9 reports.
Officials said that fire crews arrived to see the parents, and another unnamed adult, carrying the children out in their arms. The parents said later that as soon as they saw their children, they knew they’d ‘gone.’
Paramedics immediately began to try and resuscitate the victims, and their efforts continued all the way to the hospital.
Sadly, all three were later declared dead.
The blaze broke out in the children’s bedroom at the family’s El Reno home, Oklahoma (pictured is the fire damaged property)
Fire crews arrived at the home (pictured) to see the parents, and another unnamed adult, carrying the children out in their arms
Video courtesy of NewsOK.com
The state medical examiner’s office has not yet released the official cause of death from the autopsy. But Chief Kent Lagaly told News 4 that the children’s injuries were consistent with smoke inhalation
‘I’ve had a brief moment to walk inside,’ said Lagaly. ‘Looks like the fire was contained to one room.’
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family pay for the funeral, and has already raised more than $7,400.
‘We did the best we could for our children,’ James said. ‘We just want to thank everybody for the prayers, the donations. We’re not asking for anything. We’re just asking for prayers at this time.’
James Redbird and wife Kee Yanna Osage said they were devastated by the loss
The entire El Reno community is reeling from the loss of the three young children (pictured)
Redbird’s aunt, Melissa Goodblanket, added on Facebook that ‘to lose a child is horrific, to lose three at the same time is unimaginable. Universal powers hear my cry for help for them. I’m just so heartbroken…want to wipe away this pain for them…ease it somehow!’
The entire El Reno community is reeling from the loss of the children.
‘It’s just a terrible, terrible, gut-wrenching feeling to have these three, beautiful lives lost from our community,’ El Reno Mayor Matt White said. ‘Our community is very upset along with the family. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and the firemen that had to go out to that scene. It’s just gut-wrenching.’
Lagley added that his first responders were also struggling with the loss of three children, although he added that their feelings ‘are second to the family right now, and that is where our focus is going to be and to support them in any way we can.’
The investigation into the cause of the fire is still ongoing.