A California man was about a week from proposing to his girlfriend. So, when a fire broke out in their home on Christmas Day, Steven Weatherford Jr. tried his best to recover the engagement ring he had hidden from his bae. Unfortunately, the 37-year-old passed away while searching the house.

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What Happened In The California Christmas Day Fire

According to KTVU, Steven rescued his family from the flames but stayed behind for the ring. His folks told the outlet he had planned to ask LaShante Mayo to be his fiancée on New Year’s Eve. Steven was at a home belonging to his dad, Weatherford Sr., in Oakland when the fire started. Authorities got the call at around 6:15 a.m. on Christmas Day.

His aunt, Eunice Smith, reportedly told KGO that Steven Weatherford Jr. was also “trying to save everybody” by making sure the house was clear. However, she added that he might not have known they all went out the back. Smith said that her other nephew was calling out to Steven to exit the house and that family members heard the 37-year-old screaming. “…He never made it out,” Smith said.

Firefighters ultimately located Steven’s unconscious body inside the house. At this time, the Oakland Fire Department has ruled the house fire accidental.

Loved Ones & Neighbors Describe Steven Weatherford Jr.

Neighbors of the impacted family launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist the family with some financial relief. The campaign says the Weatherfords have lived in the neighborhood for over 40 years and that Steven Jr.’s mother passed away just a few years ago.

“In this time of unimaginable sorrow, as their neighbors and along with many others in our neighborhood who wanted to do something, we created this GoFundMe on behalf of Steve and his family. This has been set up to help cover the costs of immediate financial needs and Steve Jr’s memorial service. The family will be receiving 100% of your donations. No one should have to bear the weight of such sorrow alone, especially during the holidays. Every donation, no matter how small, will go a long way in easing their burdens and helping them honor the memory of Steve Jr.”

Steven Weatherford Jr.’s girlfriend, LaShante, called him the “best person” someone could ever meet. “He loved his family, his friends, everybody so much,” Mayo said. She did not know he had planned to propose. It’s unclear if firefighters were able to recover the engagement ring.

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