Cherokee County RV Explosion Seriously Burns Mother and Daughter

Cherokee County RV Explosion Leaves Mother and Daughter Seriously Burned

A Cherokee County RV explosion left a mother and her young daughter with serious burns after fire rapidly swept through their recreational vehicle east of Tahlequah.

Stevie Starr and her daughter, Alivia, are now recovering at home after lengthy hospital stays. Starr says she ran back into the burning RV to rescue her daughter after seeing the child engulfed in flames.

Cherokee County RV Explosion Seriously Burns Mother and Daughter

The Cherokee County RV explosion happened shortly after 8 a.m. on July 22 at a property along U.S. Highway 62 east of Tahlequah.

Starr said she had been making breakfast when she heard a sudden noise and looked up to see flames spreading across the RV's ceiling.

She immediately called for Alivia. Starr said she initially tried to extinguish the fire before realizing her daughter was burning.

“I knew I was going to get burned going back in there but there was no way that was my only chance to get my kid and she was on fire,” Starr said. “I was not going to sit there and let her burn.”

Starr managed to get Alivia outside and began rolling her daughter in the grass in an effort to extinguish the flames.

The Tahlequah Fire Department responded to assist Welling firefighters. Crews found the RV engulfed in fire, with the explosion also causing a neighboring, unoccupied RV to catch fire.

Firefighters remained at the scene until approximately 9:30 a.m.

Mother Spent Three Weeks in Coma After Tahlequah RV Fire

Both Starr and Alivia suffered serious burn injuries.

Alivia was eventually flown to Galveston, Texas, for specialized treatment. Starr was taken to Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa, where she said she spent approximately three weeks in a coma.

Starr suffered burns to her legs, arms, stomach, back and face.

When she regained consciousness, Starr said one of her first concerns was finding out whether her daughter had survived.

“I woke up and I was so scared. I didn’t know where my daughter was,” Starr said. “All I wanted to do was hear her voice.”

A nurse eventually told Starr that Alivia was alive and staying with Starr's mother.

Starr had originally been expected to remain hospitalized until August 25 but was released August 21. Mother and daughter are now back home together, although their recovery continues.

Alivia continues to experience pain and seizures and requires medication, according to her mother. The fire destroyed some of Alivia's medication and also killed her puppy. The family is now trying to find a service dog to help Alivia because of the seizures.

Starr said she continues to experience significant pain herself and will require speech and occupational therapy as part of her recovery.

Cause of RV Explosion Remains Under Investigation

The cause of the RV explosion near Tahlequah has not been officially determined.

Starr and her family believe a gas leak may have contributed to the explosion, but investigators have not confirmed that as the cause.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, working smoke alarms and having an established escape plan are important parts of protecting families when a residential fire occurs.

Starr said the experience showed her just how quickly flames can spread.

“When a fire starts, you don’t have time to grab stuff,” Starr said. “It only takes seconds for something to be on fire — you have to think fast.”

Despite their injuries, Starr said her focus is now on helping her daughter recover and rebuilding their lives.

During a return to the burned RV site, Starr said she found one possession that had survived the destruction — a small Bible located among the burned belongings.

“I went down there and I found a little bible in there and it didn’t get burned,” Starr said.

For additional information about protecting families from residential fires, the U.S. Fire Administration provides fire prevention and escape-planning resources.

Starr said the months ahead will include continued rehabilitation for both her and Alivia, but her goal is straightforward.

“I just want to make a new life for us,” Starr said.

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