Investigators have identified the cause of a Feb. 5 house fire that killed a Lawton couple.
The house fire at 1924 NW Oak killed Dean Vellines, 71, and his wife, Mattie Vellines, 73, was caused by a portable electric space heater placed and operated too close to combustible materials, according to the investigation by the Lawton Fire Marshal’s office.
Firefighters were called just before noon Feb. 5 to the home and arrived to find smoke coming from the back of the home. Firefighters went inside and quickly extinguished the fire. A search found the couple.
One person was already dead at the scene and the second was removed from inside and rescue efforts attempted in the backyard. Lawton Fire crews, along with crews from Comanche County Memorial Hospital EMS and Kirks EMS, attempted life-saving efforts, but were unsuccessful.