Man Planning to Propose on New Year's Eve Dies in Christmas Day House Fire While Searching for the Ring

Mar. 15, 2025

Steven Weatherford.Photo:Facebook

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A California man who was planning to propose to his girlfriend on New Year’s Eve died during a Christmas Day house fire after searching for the engagement ring.

Firefighters who were searching the home eventually found the man unconscious inside.

“He loved his family, his friends, everybody so much,” added Mayo, who was unaware that he was planning to propose until the day of the fatal blaze.

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“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,” said Weatherford’s aunt, Eunice Smith, according to KGO.

“And my other nephew was calling for him because they were all in the back,” Smith continued, “and they were calling, ‘Steven! Steven! Come out! Come out!’ and they heard him screaming. And he never made it out.”

The OFD did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

More than $16,000 has been raised through the neighborhood GoFundMe campaign. The funds will go toward covering the family’s “immediate financial needs” following the blaze and Weatherford’s memorial service.

source: people.com