Store, motel blazes top monthly fire report
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on December 12, 2004 2:02 AM
Goldsboro firefighters put out three major structure fires, including those at Delmus' Hardware and the Best Western Goldsboro Inn, while answering 188 calls in November.
Fire Chief Bobby Greenfield wrote in his monthly report that an electrical problem contributed to the Nov. 23 fire at Delmus' Hardware at 1003 N. Berkeley Blvd.
Police investigators said the fire appeared to have started at either an electrical outlet or a rechargeable battery plugged into the outlet in an upstairs bathroom used for storage. The fire then spread through a wall that separated the store from the Bingo World next door.
Damages were estimated at $40,000 to the building and $30,000 to contents. The building was valued at $500,000, and contents were valued at $500,000.
Firefighters needed almost five and a half hours to put out the fire, investigate the cause, ventilate the building and finish salvage work.
The State Bureau of Investigation assisted police in the investigation.
The Nov. 15 fire at the Best Western hotel at 801 E. Dr. M.L. King Jr. Expressway had started in a cart used by the housekeeping staff, police said. The cart contained cleaning supplies, bed linens, toiletries and matches.
Two vacant hotel bedrooms were damaged severely in the fire. Damages were estimated at $15,000 to the building and $5,000 to contents. The hotel complex was valued at $3 million, and contents were valued at $2 million.
Unattended cooking was blamed for a kitchen fire Nov. 23 at 1109 N. James St. An unidentified resident suffered smoke inhalation and burned feet and was administered oxygen, but she refused emergency-room treatment, Greenfield said.
Firefighters also discovered that a battery-operated smoke detector in an adjoining room did not work.
Damage was estimated at $1,000. The home was valued at $35,000 and contents were valued at $15,000.
Department training was held in trench rescue. Company training was conducted in company drills, self-survival techniques, building construction, ladder skills, forcible entry, scene size-up, thermal imaging, incident command, street locations, rope skills, hydrant flow and pump operation.