Family Of 7 Escapes House Fire In SE OKC

A family of seven survived a house fire in southeast Oklahoma City, early Monday morning.

It happened around 3 a.m. on the 5200 block of S.E. 54th street.

A man inside had just said goodbye to his wife, who left for work, when a friend who was visiting smelled smoke. They woke up the five children in the house and ran to a neighbor's house to call 911.

Heavy flames were seen coming from the garage. Fire crews quickly put it out but it spread to the attic. The rest of the home has a small amount of smoke damage.

Fire officials estimate the damage at $10,000.

According to the fire department, one resident admitted to cleaning out the garage earlier and throwing some old batteries and other things away into roll-away dumpsters just outside of the garage. This was consistent with the investigation. The fire appears to have begun outside of the garage on the front of the home and extended into the attic from there.  All of the fire damage was contained in the attic. 

Fire officials said there was minimal water damage in the home, because firefighters went to great lengths to throw protective plastic covers over furniture and contents while simultaneously attacking the fire in the attic.

The family of seven had been renting the home from a landlord who lives in Virginia. They have been allowed back into the home.