Family mourns loss of 3 children
EL RENO — The grieving parents of three young children who died in a house fire Monday are working through the shock of their loss while thanking the community for its comfort and support.
“Our children, they were loved by many people, and they impacted a lot of people,” James Redbird told The Oklahoman.
“Little did we know that our little babies served their purpose, whatever it may be, and God called them home. We’re not asking for anything. If people want to donate, that’s fine. All we’re asking for is prayer.”
Around 6 a.m. Monday, firefighters were met in the front lawn of a house in the 200 block of North K Avenue by family members carrying the two girls — Amylah Dawn Redbird, 4, and Mayley Jean Redbird, 22 months — and a boy — Gunner Ray Redbird, 3.
Emergency personnel tried to resuscitate the children. The
children were taken to Mercy Hospital in El Reno where they died.
The blaze was contained to one room in the house, where fire officials believe all three children were asleep. The room had extensive smoke damage, while the rest of the house did not, fire officials said.
A space heater was in the area of the fire, but the cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
The El Reno Fire Department is giving the family time to grieve, Fire Chief Kent Lagaly said.
“Once you experience something like this, you realize your focus goes toward the family,” he said. “How the community is reaching out to this family is just incredible to me.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Redbird, and his wife, Ke-Yanna Osage.
Redbird’s aunt, Melissa Good-blanket, posted on Facebook that “to lose a child is horrific, to lose three at the same time is unimaginable. Universal powers hear my cry for help for them. I’m just so heartbroken...want to wipe away this pain for them...ease it somehow!”
Redbird told The Oklahoman he is trying to remain strong for his wife. He described the tragic final moments with his children.
“As soon as we found them, they were pretty much gone,” Redbird said.