PAWHUSKA, Okla. — The Pawhuska Fire Department fought a large fire at Osage Assistant Chief R.J. Walker's house Thursday afternoon.
"I haven't even had a chance to take a breath," said R.J. Walker.
Walker says his 17-year-old daughter drove her car home from a Bartlesville mechanic around 5 p.m. She parked the car under their carport when it started smoking then caught fire.
"Just like that within a minute or two the house was on fire," said Walker.
Fire Chief Lloyd Arnce told 2 News the fire pushed to the attic and spread quickly through the home.
Arnce said they are still investigating the official cause of the fire.
"You never think something like this would truly happen," said Walker.
Chief Arnce says firefighters spent about 6 hours putting out flames and getting things under control on Thursday.
They left around 11 p.m.
The house sustained significant damage, but the fire was isolated to one home.
"It was unbelievable," said Walker. "Like truly unbelievable. We all have insurance but when you talk to your insurance agent about fire coverage and different things like that you never really think that it will happen."
Walker and his wife were on the way to Missouri for a premier of Killers of the Flower Moon when his daughter called about the fire.
They turned around right way and made the two-hour drive back home.
"All they were doing then was wetting it down and trying to get the flames out and salvage what they could," said Walker.
Family members supported Walker as he figures out the next steps for his family.
"We're going to be fine," said Walker. "We have a good support system and got a lot of people that have already reached out offering help and we're going to be fine. We'll regroup, rebuild and recover."
He says above all, he's thankful his daughter is safe and no one was hurt.
This is a developing story.
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