Mathias, West Virginia — A devastating house fire claimed the lives of a 28-year-old father and four young children, leaving their grieving mother, Candi Strawderman, the sole survivor. The tragic incident unfolded early Saturday at the family's residence on Woods Edge Road.
Candi Strawderman's fiancé, Hunter Campbell, and their children, Grayson, Bucklee, Abilene, and Jayce, aged one to five, lost their lives in the massive blaze. The only silver lining in this heart-wrenching tale is that Candi's daughter, who wasn't at home during the incident, survived the tragedy.
Local volunteer firefighters responded swiftly to the scene, but unfortunately, the intensity of the flames thwarted their efforts to rescue the trapped family members. Candi, in a desperate bid to escape, managed to exit through a window but sustained injuries in the process. She was promptly rushed to a trauma center for medical attention.
Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Robert Bailey revealed that the extent of Candi's injuries remains unknown. The cause of the fire is also undetermined due to the extensive damage to the house, complicating the investigation. Bailey mentioned that the presence of electric space heaters in the home cannot be ruled out as a potential cause.
Crucially, fire officials stressed that no smoke alarms were found in the debris, underscoring the importance of these lifesaving devices. The damage to the structure is so severe that, despite suspicions of electric space heaters playing a role, the exact cause of the fire may remain elusive.
Woods Edge Road, once home to the Strawderman family, now bears a haunting reminder with a sign reading 'Strawderman's Salvage Yard.' The Mathias Volunteer Fire Department, deeply affected by the tragedy, shared a heartfelt message on social media, expressing condolences and support for Candi Strawderman during this unimaginably difficult time.
The tight-knit community of Mathias mourns the loss of five lives and rallies around Candi as she copes with the profound grief of losing her fiancé and children in a tragic and unanticipated event.
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