Cooking fire damages home in Goldsboro
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on June 1, 2004 1:58 PM
Unattended cooking was blamed today for a fire that heavily damaged a duplex apartment at 715 Devereaux St., a Goldsboro fire official said.
No one was injured, but two occupants needed oxygen, Assistant Fire Chief Ray Boyette said.
Heavy fire was showing and the home was engulfed in flames when firefighters answered the 1:17 a.m. alarm. Fire damaged the kitchen, living room and a hall, and smoke damaged the entire home.
News-Argus/Dennis Hill
Sixteen firefighters responded with three engines, a ladder and a command car. They needed about two hours to put out the fire, investigate the cause and finish salvage work. Two emergency medical technicians assisted.
"It could have been a lot worse, the way it was burning," Boyette said. "They did an excellent job in knocking it down before it damaged the adjacent duplex."
The renter, Queen Lamb, and two children lived in the duplex, Boyette said.
The building, owned by Sherman Best of Goldsboro, was valued at $45,000. Contents were valued at $5,500. Damage was estimated at $28,000 to the building and $3,500 to contents.
The residents in the other duplex were evacuated. Boyette said their home was not damaged.