RAMONA, Okla. — Three people died after a house fire in Ramona, according to a Washington County Emergency Management spokesperson.
The fire started early in the morning on Jan. 12 at a home near near Wyandotte Avenue and Keeler Street. Three people are hospitalized with injuries.
ATF is investigating the fire because the victims are Native American.
Kay Cox, Emergency Manager and Fire Chief for Washington County, said the flames were fought by five fire departments: Ramona, Oglesby, Ochelata, Owens and Company, and Collinsville.
Cox said the cold temperatures made the fire especially difficult to defeat.
"The weather certainly played a factor. The cold temperatures this morning made it very difficult for firefighters," said Cox. "A lot of icing up around the house. All the water that was used froze instantly."
The tight quarters of the street was also a challenge for crews.
"This is a very narrow, dead-end street, so access was very difficult," said Cox. "No water supply close by, so they had to use tanker shuttle operations to bring water to the scene"
"It's just terrible," said Ed Owens, a neighbor on Keeler Street. "It's terrible for everyone."
On Jan 15, ATF agent Ashley Stephens said the fire was accidental. Investigators said it was most likely a lamp that overloaded the circuit.
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