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A heroic act of sacrifice marked Christmas morning in Oakland, California, when a man lost his life in a house fire after ensuring the safety of his family.
Authorities identified the man as a local resident who, after successfully evacuating his loved ones from the blaze, was unable to escape himself.
Firefighters responded to the scene at around 6:15 a.m., The Associated Press reported, and were able to extinguish the fire in 30 minutes.
The man, identified by KTVU as 37-year-old Steven Weatherford Jr., was found unconscious inside the home, according to Michael Hunt of the Oakland Fire Department. Officials said that Weatherford had likely died due to smoke inhalation.
Why It Matters
The overall home fire toll in 2021, 2,840 deaths, was still 47 percent lower than the largest on record, 5,400 in 1981. However, the recent increase in deaths—from a low of 2,380 in 2012—has occurred even as the number of fires has declined to a low of 338,000 in 2021 from more than 700,000 in the 1980s.
What To Know
Oakland Fire Department said that Weatherford swiftly alerted his family about the fire, ensuring that his brother, aunt and father were able to safely escape.
After ensuring that others were safe, relatives and officials said the man returned to the house to search for an engagement ring he had planned to give his girlfriend, KTVU reported.
A graduate of California State University, East Bay, Weatherford worked as a client services coordinator for AccentCare, a nonmedical care provider in Walnut Creek, California. He was also a published author.
The cause and origin of the Christmas morning fire are still under investigation by the Oakland Fire Department, though one official said that preliminary findings suggest this was accidental, The Associated Press reported.
Newsweek has contacted the Oakland Fire Department for further information.
What People Are Saying
Lashante Mayo, Steven Weatherford's girlfriend, said to KTVU Fox 2 on Wednesday: "Steven was truly the best person you could ever meet. He loved his family, his friends, everybody so much. He died trying to get them out the house."
Oakland Fire Department wrote via X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday: "Tragically, after alerting his family (his father, aunt and brother) to the fire and getting them out of the house, a 37 year old male was overcome and likely disoriented by the smoke and ultimately found unconscious inside while crews were continuing to search the house."
One X user commented on the news: "Such a heartbreaking story. It's tragic that he lost his life, but his actions will undoubtedly be remembered as a testament to his courage."
What Happens Next?
A GoFundMe page has been created to assist those grieving Weatherford's loss, intended to cover their immediate financial needs and expenses for a memorial service, which has raised over $6,300 as of press time, halfway toward the $12,000 goal, thanks to 69 donations.
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