Toddler killed, man injured in 2 NW Tulsa fires doors apart

TULSA - A toddler is dead and a man is hospitalized after two fires just doors apart in northwest Tulsa.

The fires happened within four hours at two separate homes near Archer and Quanah Boulevard. While crews were still on the scene of the first, what proved to be a deadly fire, the second blaze started right around the corner.

Residents like Terri Taylor say it's been a stressful day. She woke up to a mother's screams early Thursday morning.

"The woman screaming and her boyfriend, he was hysterical and screaming, and just chaos," said Taylor.  "I look over, there's the flames and I'm sick to my stomach because I'm like, there's a baby in there."

It was already too late when firefighters arrived.  They were unable to save the 15-month-old little boy.

"It really hurts when we don't succeed," said Fire Capt. Jerry Benefield, with the Tulsa Fire Department.

Four other adults were able to make it safely out of the duplex.

The intensity of the fire and its deadly outcome meant crews were still on the scene four hours later.  That's when Taylor's son noticed more smoke and flames.

She said it was unbelievable.

"He goes, 'No mom, there's another fire' and then it just went up in flames," said Taylor.  "I dialed 911 and he ran down and told (firefighters) and they ran over."

Crews immediately took action.

Only one resident was inside. He made it out safely and was transported to the hospital in fair condition.

His dog was also rescued.

Officials say the fire started because of a bad extension cord.

The two fires were just doors apart, but officials say they are completely unrelated.

"This is probably the first that I've seen where it's just one after the other.  Usually we get that as a result of winter storms or floods," said Benefield.

Residents like Taylor, who watched the scene unfold, are double-checking their own homes.

"All of us, all of us neighbors are just sitting here, like wow," said Taylor.

Investigators have not yet released the cause of the fire where the toddler died.