Goldsboro Fire Department puts out nine major fires in July
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on August 11, 2005 1:46 PM
A month after not responding to any major fires, the Goldsboro Fire Department put out nine major July fires, including one in which two people died.
The residents of an apartment at 206-C N. George St. were found dead July 16 in a predawn fire. Roy Chester Rowe, 48, and Patricia Ann Raynor, 38, were the city's first fire deaths in 2005.
An investigation by Goldsboro police and the State Bureau of Investigation led to the arrest five days later of a resident who had lived next to the victims. Leon Edward Farrior, 34, was charged with two felony counts of first-degree murder and one felony count of first-degree arson. He remained jailed without bond.
The 89-year-old home, owned by D.J. Rose of Goldsboro, and the contents were destroyed. The home was valued at $60,000, and contents were valued at $50,000.
Fire Chief Bobby Greenfield's monthly report included these other fires:
*Cigarette ashes were believed to have started a fire July 1 under a bed at The Pines of Goldsboro at 380 Country Day Road. When firefighters arrived, they found the sprinkler system had put out the fire. Damages were set at $35,000 to the building and $2,000 to the contents. The complex was valued at $3.5 million, and contents were worth $1 million.
*An outbuilding and its contents were destroyed July 4 in a fire at 1304 N. Carolina St. The cause remains undetermined. The building was valued at $500 and contents were worth $200.
*A kitchen fire July 7 at 1102 E. Pine St. resulted in $10,000 in damages to the home and $3,000 to contents. Unattended cooking was blamed. The home, owned by Lars Larson, was valued at $140,000, and contents were valued at $70,000.
*Firefighters put out a bedroom fire July 11 at a home at 410 S. Pineview Ave. The heat source could not be determined, but officials said a 4-year-old child was a contributing factor. Damage was estimated at $10,000 to the home and $4,000 to contents. The home, owned by Winfred Bryant, was valued at $95,000, and contents were worth $40,000.
*A fire caused about $2,500 in damages to a house and $6,500 to contents on July 18 at 606 Stronach Ave. Lt. Frank Sasser said cigarette ashes might have started the fire. The home was valued at $45,000, and contents were worth $15,000. The residents, Hildea Allen and Joseph Wiggs, were in a camper in the back yard and did not notice the fire until they were told by a neighbor. Rescue personnel also administered oxygen to save two of the couple's three pet cats.
*The resident at 1505 Rose St. accidentally turned on a heating unit July 19 before going to bed, causing a rug on a vent and the floor to be ignited. A smoke detector awakened the resident, David Montague, who called 911 and scrambled outside. Damage was set at about $10,000 to the home and $2,000 to contents. The home was valued at $85,000, and contents were valued at $40,000.
*A storage building at 1504 Boyette Drive caught fire July 23, resulting in about $1,500 in damages. A heater had been left on inadvertently, officials said. The shed, owned by Tracey Reeves, was valued at $3,000. Christmas decorations were among the $1,500 worth of the contents that were damaged. The contents were valued at $2,500.
*A roofing company worker, using a torch, accidentally started a fire July 26 at the Arby's fast-food restaurant at 1103 N. Berkeley Blvd. Damage was put at $150. The building was valued at $150,000, and contents were worth $100,000.
The department answered 161 fire and-or service calls in July.
Firefighters took part in 375 hours of company training and 1,721 hours of individual training in July, Greenfield said.
Company training was held in high-angle rescue, equipment, accountability system, search skills, snorkel skills, relay pumping, fire critiques, street locations, ventilation, communication and company drills.
Department training was held in firefighter-down drills, methodology and rehabilitation trailer setup.
More than 450 citizens took part in fire-prevention and safety demonstrations conducted in July by the department.
A total of 232 children went through the fire safety house and learned how to escape a fire. About 100 children toured the downtown headquarters fire station, and 110 saw a fire truck in action. A department official spoke about safety to 22 residents of an assisted living home.