Mother, young child killed in OKC house fire; father and another child critically injured

A mother and a young child were killed in a house fire early Friday, leaving a tight-knit neighborhood in shock. The father and another child remain hospitalized in critical condition, officials said.

Neighbors described waking up to the terrifying sound of screams as flames engulfed the home.

Desperate Escape

Clarissa, who lives nearby, recalled the frantic moments as firefighters rushed to the scene.

"They got here in three to four minutes, but it felt like an eternity," she said.

She witnessed some family members trying to escape.

"As I was on with 911, some of the kids were down at the stop sign, one of them was in the front yard, and the gentleman was screaming for his significant other," she said.

Oklahoma City Fire Department Battalion Chief Scott Douglas said six people were inside the home when the fire broke out.

"There were two teenage girls that jumped from a second-story window onto a trash can. Fortunately, they're okay," Douglas said.

However, the mother and a young child did not survive. The father and another child were critically injured and taken to a hospital.

Family confirmed that

Community in Mourning

Neighbors said the family was well-known in the area and often played outside together.

"We do care about our neighborhood. We wave at each other. It’s very 1930s—everyone knows each other on this block. It’s sad," neighbor Don Pritchett said.

Firefighters said the extreme heat inside the home caused a flashover, meaning everything ignited almost instantly.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The family has started a GoFundMe to raise money for funeral and hospital expenses. CLICK HERE for more information.