Investigator: Space Heaters Possible Cause Of Deadly Fire

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DECATUR (CBSDFW.COM) - One person was killed and two others were injured, including a child, after fire swept through a mobile home in northern Wise County early Wednesday morning. The incident happened at about 2:45 a.m. along Quail Chase Drive, northeast of Decatur.

The fire started while seven people were inside of the home -- a mother, father, aunt, uncle, grandmother and two kids.

An official from the Wise County Sheriff's Office confirmed a person died. Wise County Fire Marshall Chuck Beard said that it was the father, who may have gone back inside of the mobile home to rescue other family members from the flames.

Two other family members were critically injured from internal and external burns and smoke inhalation, including a 9-year-old child and the aunt, who is in her 70s. Several pets also died in the fire.

Neighbors identified the deceased victim as 65-year-old George Steele, and the child as Javier Steele. The boy was first taken to Cook Children's Hospital in Dallas, but has since been moved to Parkland Hospital in Dallas with third-degree burns.

The additional family members -- including a one-year-old child -- were all able to escape the blaze without serious injury.

The victim's father-in-law, Gary Fawkes told CBS 11 he was awakened by his wife's screams.

"I woke up, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't see, I chased her out the window," recalls Fawkes.  "I got the window open, I got her out, went back to try and save George and the dogs.  I couldn't find none of them."

Monica Schumpert has been the family's neighbor for ten years, and she considered the deceased man a hero. "He was a good dad, a good family member," Schumpert said. "I hate that he lost his life, but I'm not sure that he could have lived with himself if they had lost theirs."

Firefighters were able to tap out the flames, which were shooting ten feet into the air, according to witnesses. However, the mobile home was destroyed. The cause of the fire is now under investigation.

"The flames were eight to ten feet high," says Schumpert.  "It was unreal.  Never seen anything like it."

Schumpert says Steele didn't know everyone had gotten out of the house when he went back in to try to save his family.

"I would have gone back in after mine," says Schumpert.  "I don't think he could have lived with himself if he would have made it and one of them wouldn't have."

Fire officials say the family's nine-year-old son was rushed to Parkland Hospital in critical condition.  The one-year-old son at last check was in good condition.

Investigators are focusing on the space heaters the family used to keep warm.  They say there were several in the center of the home and that's where the fire started.

Wise County Fire Marshal Chuck Beard says, "That's very dangerous this time of year.  If you don't keep things away from the heaters, two or three feet away from them, things like this can happen."

The American Red Cross is helping out the family, including the in-laws who only recently moved to North Texas.