A man in California had been dating his girlfriend for about a week. So when the fire broke out in their house on Christmas Day, Steven Weatherford Jr. she struggled to retrieve the engagement ring she had hidden from her baes. Unfortunately, the 37-year-old died while searching the house.

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What happened in the California Christmas Day fire

according to KTVUSteven rescued his family from the flames but stayed behind for the ring. His relatives told the outlet he planned to ask LaShante Mayo To be his bride on New Year's Eve. Steven was at the home of his father, Weatherford Sr., in Oakland when the fire broke out. The authorities received the call around 6:15 am on Christmas Day.

His aunt, Eunice Smith, he said to KGO Steven Weatherford Jr. that he was also "trying to save everyone" by making sure the house was clean. However, he added that he might not have known that they all came out of the back. Smith said her other nephew, Steven, was calling for him to get out of the house and family members heard the 37-year-old screaming. "... He never got it out," Smith said.

Firefighters eventually found Steven's body unconscious inside the home. At this time, the Oakland Fire Department has determined that the house fire was accidental.

Loved ones and neighbors describe Steven Weatherford Jr.

Neighbors of the affected family sprung into action A GoFundMe campaign to give some financial support to the family. The campaign says the Weatherfords have lived in the neighborhood for more than 40 years and that Steven Jr.'s mother died a few years ago.

"During this unthinkable time, as 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 created to help cover the costs of immediate financial needs and a memorial service for Steve Jr. The family wishes your 100% of donations will be received.No one should have to bear the weight of such grief alone, especially during the holidays.Every donation, no matter how small, will go a long way to ease their burdens and Steve Jr's memory to help honor it."

Steven Weatherford Jr.'s girlfriend, LaShante, called him "the best person" anyone could ever meet. "He loved his family so much, his friends, everybody," Mayo said. He did not know that he was planning to propose. It is not clear if firefighters recovered the engagement ring.

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