Parents Jamie and Rachel Huff and 15 month old daughter Arya were able to escape shortly after the fire began, leaving Jamie to make desperate efforts to reach his 2 year old son Aiden and a friends son, 2 year old Hunter, who were trapped in the opposite end of the mobile home.
Huff, along with a neighbor attempted to break a window and use a garden hose to gain access, but the fire had gained too much momentum leaving him with extensive burns and other injuries.
While the fire was quickly brought under control as multiple agencies arrived on scene, as the smoke cleared, reality set in regarding what lied ahead in recovering the bodies.
Huff said he had just purchased a small heater and it was in the room where the boys slept. While the heater is as the center of the investigation, the state fire marshal is still looking at exactly what caused the fire and accompanying explosion.
A neighbor was quoted as saying she remembered the children playing outside and "it's incomprehensible that this kind of tragedy can happen", a sentiment shared by most everyone throughout the community.
As our community mourns the loss, a GoFundMe account has been set up to help defray expenses; also the Carpenter's Cup in Butler is accepting donations as well.
From the Bates County Museum:More information will be posted as it becomes available from the state fire marshal.
