According to reports, on December 16, 2024, Matthew Wright, a 38-year-old Kansas father of five, ran into his house to save his fiance and two kids from a fire that broke out. Though his fiance and kids were able to make it out of the fire with minor injuries, Mathew was seriously injured in the fire. On December 17, 2024, Pratt Police Dept. informed that Wright succumbed to his injuries.
In light of his death, his neighbor Sally Cookson is organizing a GoFundMe campaign to help the family with Matthew's funeral service to be held on December 28. As of December 23, the campaign has raised about USD 6,591 out of its USD 10,000 goal. Furthermore, the campaign states that any extra funds received will be used to secure the future of Matthew's five kids.
"Our goal is to ensure that he receives the dignified farewell he deserves. Additionally, any funds raised beyond these expenses will be dedicated to securing the futures of Matt's five children—Jaylen, Elijah, Darius, Quinton, and Quinn(...) If you prefer to donate locally, The Wright Family Fund has been established at People's Bank and Trust in Pratt, Kansas."
Details of the December 16 Kansas house fire
According to multiple reports, a fire broke out in Matthew Wright and his fiance Megan's Kansas home on December 16, 2024, around 2:40 PM. Matthew Wright was outside his home when he saw the fire, and he, unaware that his wife and two kids had already escaped through a window, rushed into the house to save them.
His long-time friend Charles Coffman Jr. mentioned to KWCH that Wright probably went to save his family without hesitation because that was who he was, a family man who would have done anything to see a smile on his children's faces.
"Without hesitation I know he didn’t think, blink, or had any concern about himself, he was worried about his family, and he went in there to get them."
The authorities responding to a house fire report reached the Kansas house fire scene to find Megan and the two children, who managed to escape the fire, outside the home, but Matthew Wright was still inside the house.
The Fire department was able to get Wright out of the house, but since he had sustained severe burn injuries from the fire, he soon succumbed to his injuries. According to reports, the Fire department investigated the scene and concluded the cause of the house fire was an "accidental electrical fire".
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His fiance Megan and their five kids survived him. Matthew's shoes were found at the scene and his family placed them on the steps along with some flowers, an uncle of Wright, Les Adams Jr, said to KSN.
"Seen his work boots, so he placed them on the porch, on the steps for Matt; he was overwhelmed with emotion, wasn’t up to it, called me, and wanted to know if I could make arrangements to get some flowers up in the boots for Matt. A good father, friend, nephew, uncle—you name it, Matt was a good guy."
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