Steven Weatherford dies in a house fire in Oakland, CA while saving family, also planned to propose on New Year’s Eve

On Christmas morning, the Weatherford family in Oakland, California, began the day in mourning. They lost Steven Weatherford while he was courageously trying to rescue his family from a fire that engulfed their home.

Described as a remarkable individual, Steven’s girlfriend, Lashante Mayo, remembers him as someone who cherished his loved ones immensely and managed to save them from the blaze. She affectionately expresses, “Steven was truly exceptional. His love for his family, friends, and everyone was boundless. He sacrificed himself to ensure their safety, and he was successful. I adored him deeply.”

She just learned on Christmas morning that he was going to propose on New Year’s Eve.

“I know he is looking down on us right now. I don’t know what else to say. I just wish he was here right now,” says Mayo.

Steven’s aunt, Eunice Smith, shares that the Weatherford family has a tradition of hosting grand holiday gatherings at their residence in Oakland for many years. She reveals that Steven was asleep on the couch when the tragic fire broke out.

“He was trying to save everybody, make sure everybody was out of the house. He may not have known they all went out the back. And my other nephew was calling for him because they were in the back and they were calling, ‘Steven! Steven! Come out! Come out!’ And they heard him screaming. And he never made it out,” says Smith.

The Oakland Fire Department says the cause of the fire is still unknown. It got a call around 6:15 a.m. of a house fire. When crews arrived on scene, they found Steven’s body inside. They believe he was likely overcome and disoriented by the smoke and appears to have died from smoke inhalation.

“He was a good person. He was a good family man. He saved his family. He saved four people in that house. He woke them up and he saved them, and he went back – I guess because he wasn’t sure that everybody was out of the house. So yes, he was a hero,” says Smith.

Mayo’s mother, Sandra Clark, also had high praise for Steven, who would have been soon-to-be son-in-law.

“When I met him, I said, ‘That’s the one. That’s the one.’ Her father and I – we just loved him so much. And he loved her so much. And I found out he was going to propose to her. He had bought the ring. He didn’t get a chance to give it to her. But it is in the house, and we are going to find it,” says Clark.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family.