Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Earlier this month, one father risked his life to save his twin daughters as their house lit up in flames. On July 17, what appeared to be a normal trip to a gas station, down the street and back, would result in catastrophe. Detroit natives, Ray Lucas and ShiAnn Brown, were only at the store for about 15 minutes. They left their 18-month-old twin daughters, Malaysia and Milan, sleeping in the basement, with Lucas’ grandmother and niece just upstairs. As the couple arrived back after a short time, the two saw their house pluming with flames. Lucas told reporters, “The house was engulfed in smoke, I saw my mom and niece were standing at the door and they were frantic. Lucas explained his motivation to act, saying that “I just had to get my babies out. That’s all that was on my mind.” With no time to waste, the heroic father plunged into the smokey labyrinth in search of his daughters. He said that, “I really only found my babies due to my memory, just knowing where they were and knowing how to get to them.” Feeling his way through clouds of smoke, Lucas made it down to the basement in time to grab them. The smoke was so severe that using his hands to guide him was the only option. The fumes resulted in Lucas being blinded for three days after the event. The family’s recovery Doctors told the father he was lucky to still have his sight. Even luckier, his daughters made it out with their lives intact. Lucas suffered second- and third- degree burns to his arms, neck, and face. Malaysia received intensive care treatment for severe burns as well, for nearly three days. Their other daughter, Milan, was treated for smoke inhalation and second-degree burns. The family lost all of their possessions in the fire, not to mention their home. They have set up a GoFundMe that is well beyond their original goal, but everything helps. Lucas told reporters, “If anybody can support that’ll be great.”
Earlier this month, one father risked his life to save his twin daughters as their house lit up in flames.
On July 17, what appeared to be a normal trip to a gas station, down the street and back, would result in catastrophe.
Detroit natives, Ray Lucas and ShiAnn Brown, were only at the store for about 15 minutes. They left their 18-month-old twin daughters, Malaysia and Milan, sleeping in the basement, with Lucas’ grandmother and niece just upstairs.
As the couple arrived back after a short time, the two saw their house pluming with flames. Lucas told reporters, “The house was engulfed in smoke, I saw my mom and niece were standing at the door and they were frantic.
Lucas explained his motivation to act, saying that “I just had to get my babies out. That’s all that was on my mind.”
With no time to waste, the heroic father plunged into the smokey labyrinth in search of his daughters. He said that, “I really only found my babies due to my memory, just knowing where they were and knowing how to get to them.”
Feeling his way through clouds of smoke, Lucas made it down to the basement in time to grab them. The smoke was so severe that using his hands to guide him was the only option. The fumes resulted in Lucas being blinded for three days after the event.
The family’s recovery
Doctors told the father he was lucky to still have his sight. Even luckier, his daughters made it out with their lives intact.
Lucas suffered second- and third- degree burns to his arms, neck, and face.
Malaysia received intensive care treatment for severe burns as well, for nearly three days. Their other daughter, Milan, was treated for smoke inhalation and second-degree burns.
The family lost all of their possessions in the fire, not to mention their home. They have set up a GoFundMe that is well beyond their original goal, but everything helps.
Lucas told reporters, “If anybody can support that’ll be great.”
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