House fire kills grandfather, strands Denton family with two kids

A house fire in Denton killed one person and left a family of four without a home overnight Thursday. A call came into the Denton Fire Department just before 3 a.m. when Dana Renee Burr's father found the space heater on fire in their mobile home on the 200 block of Klopman Mill Rd. The father then woke up his daughter, her boyfriend, Ricky Martin, and their two children, ages 4 and 7, according to Burr's sister. The four were able to escape out the bedroom window. The grandfather, however, stayed behind to try to put out the fire, Deputy Fire Marshall Jacob Thompson said. The grandfather was unable to escape and died in the fire, DFD officials said. The mobile home is a total loss, DFD officials said.
WFMY-TV CBS 2 Greensboro

Dozens of firefighters from three counties battle garage fire near China Grove

PHOTO: Firefighters from three counties responded to a large fire that started in a garage on Thursday afternoon. Plumes of smoke could be seen for miles as flames destroyed a garage in the 2700 block of Cannon Farm Road near China Grove. Dozens of firefighters from Cabarrus, Iredell, and Rowan were on the scene working to extinguish that fire and keep it from spreading to a nearby home. “Upon notification, Enochville Fire & Rescue responded to the scene along with their mutual aid partners,” stated Daniel Jenkins, Assistant Chief of Enochville Fire & Rescue. “Firefighters arrived moments later to find a large garage fully involved in flames and impinging on another structure. Due to the heavy fire involvement and the structure beginning to collapse, firefighters were unable to enter the involved building. Firefighters battled the flames for almost 30 minutes before bringing it under control.”
WBTV CBS 3 Charlotte

Fire damages historic general store in Ashe County

PHOTOS: A fire broke out at a historic general store in Ashe County Thursday night, causing heavy damage. The fire broke out at the Todd General Store off Todd Railroad Grade Road in Todd, N.C. Employees at Nearby RiverGirl Fishing Company say the flames sparked around 9:45 p.m. “It’s with a heavy heart that we have to share that the Todd General Store burned down tonight. No one was injured. But we’ve lost a huge part of our community,” RiverGirl Fishing Company posted on Facebook. “Please keep the owners, their family and the community in your prayers.” The employees said surrounding buildings could have been impacted if not for the quick response by firefighters. Todd General Store opened in 1914 and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. We’re working to learn more about what caused the fire.
WBTV CBS 3 Charlotte

Chief looks to boost pay, add new truck with Western Carteret Fire and EMS 2021-22 budget

The Western Carteret Interlocal Cooperation Agency Board of Directors voted unanimously Wednesday night to set a public hearing for Wednesday, March 17 on Western Carteret Fire and EMS Department Chief Kevin Hunter’s preliminary fiscal 2021-22 budget. The board, which oversees the department, set the hearing on the $3.463 million operating and capital improvements budget during a special session in the meeting room of the fire department off Sherwood Avenue. The total is a 31% increase over the current fiscal 2020-21 budget, but the vast majority of the jump is for a salary increase for employees, one new staff position and capital outlay to pay most of the cost of a new $768,340 Spartan rescue/pumper firetruck. In his presentation to the board, Chief Hunter said “there will be no tax increase” for the district, as growth and development in the past year is expected to increase and result in more money for the department.
Carteret County News-Times

Clayton high school honors first responders, firefighter who died from COVID-19 before football opener

Clayton High School opened its football season Thursday night against rival Corinth Holders. Before the game, the school honored first responders, thanking them for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also remembered Clayton firefighter Jason Dean, who died from COVID-19 in September. He was the first firefighter in the state to pass away from the virus. His wife, Kristy, and their two daughters, Addie and Harper, were part of the pregame coin toss. Kristy also announced a new initiative, JD’s Day of Service, that will honor her husband’s memory.
WNCN-TV CBS 17 Goldsboro

Renovations begin at new Cumberland County emergency services center

Renovations are starting in March at the Executive Place building that will become the new Emergency Services Center in Cumberland County. The building will house the 911 call center, the fire marshal’s office, and the emergency management team. Currently, those services are located in the basement of the Law Enforcement Center. Cumberland County officials said they’ve outgrown that space since they’ve been there nearly 50 years and the population has increased by about 95,000 people. The new space will include updated equipment and technology. “It’s time to do better, and having a facility that’s going to accommodate the services that need to be offered to our citizens,” said Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Chairman Charles Evans. “There is nothing more important than the public safety of the citizens who are out there,” said Cumberland County Commissioner Jimmy Keefe. The total project budget is $16.5 million.
WNCN-TV CBS 17 Goldsboro

Tractor trailer hauling logs in Jones County destroyed by fire; two firefighters injured

A tractor-trailer hauling logs caught fire in one Eastern Carolina County this afternoon. Potters Hill Fire Department in Duplin County says it responded around noon to a mutual aid call from Harggets Crossroads Fire Department in Jones County. The fire department says that it was able to get the fire under control in about an hour. Two firefighters received minor injuries but are okay, according to officials.
WITN-TV NBC 7 Washington

Delco grease fire sends one to hospital with second-degree burns

Three occupants of a home along U.S. 74-76 in Delco were hospitalized after a grease fire Tuesday night, according to Acme-Delco-Riegelwood Fire Chief Steve Camlin. Camlin said the call came in at 8:23 p.m. to 21945 Andrew Jackson Highway, noting the fire started after the occupants were cooking on the stove. All three occupants were taken to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. A woman who Camlin said had handled some of the fire suffered second-degree burns and respiratory distress and was then airlifted to UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, which has a specialized burn center. One of the other occupants had “severe smoke inhalation” and the third, an elderly man, had elevated vitals, Camlin said. A small pitbull was unharmed and was picked up by family members later in the night. Camlin said the crews did a great job of knocking out the fire, limiting the fire damage to the kitchen, with light smoke damage to the rest of the residence.
The News Reporter - Metered Site

11-year-old’s actions limited damage from Craven County brush fire

A Craven County boy's quick thinking likely saved several homes from burning in a Wednesday afternoon brush fire. Sixth grader Matthew Leonberger is being called a hero for his brave actions. The 11-year-old said he was sitting on his couch watching YouTube when he happened to see flames outside his window on Timothy Court Road and immediately jumped into action. "I was sitting right here when I looked over here and saw smoke out here," he told NewsChannel 12's Kate Hussey. "I got up to go look at it, and I saw fire right there in that black spot." His eagle eyes may have saved an entire neighborhood. "I went to go get my brother, then put out the part that was in my backyard," he recalled. But, Leonberger said he could see the flames reached beyond the backyard fence, so he raced to call the fire department.
WCTI-TV ABC 12 New Bern

Prescribed burns to begin in Brunswick, New Hanover County

Orton’s annual prescribed burns will take place between March 1 and May 1 on more than 6,000 acres. The controlled burns are conducted in coordination with the North Carolina Forest Service, the North Carolina Department of Air Quality, the Brunswick and New Hanover County fire departments and 911 services. The burns will be overseen by Orton Property Manager Dillon Epp, a state-certified controlled burner. “With its interconnected longleaf pine forests and wetlands, Southeastern North Carolina is recognized as one of the most ecologically diverse locations on earth,” said Epp. “Guided by Mr. Bacon’s conservation ethic, we are proud that our annual prescribed fire regimen at Orton, together with the work of our partners, is playing a significant role in a larger, range-wide public-private effort to build resilience in this special habitat.” Although the projected burning window is two months long, the actual number of days prescribed fire will be applied is around 14 days.
WECT-TV NBC 6 Wilmington