Apartment fire accidental
By John Joyce
Published in News on December 19, 2013 1:46 PM
The Goldsboro Fire Department has concluded its investigation into the East Holly Street fire that displaced six families in the Fairview Housing Community Saturday at 4:30 a.m.
Investigators have ruled the fire accidental.
"The actual cause of the fire is still undetermined. The place of origin was determined and the fire ruled accidental," Assistant Chief Frank Sasser said.
The fire started in Apartment 1717-B in the area where the couch was placed.
GFD investigators spoke with the resident, Shnate Parker, in the course of the investigation.
"She and her son came back to the apartment around 2 a.m. The son went to sleep on the couch, and she went on to bed," Sasser said.
According to the report, Ms. Parker was awakened by a smoke detector. When she came into the front room, the couch was on fire, Sasser said.
The fire department got the call about 4:30 a.m. and found several apartments involved upon arrival.
By the time the fire was out, the roof had collapsed, and six families were displaced, either by fire or water damage, or in some cases both.
The Wayne County chapter of the American Red Cross and Goldsboro Housing Authority worked to relocate the families, who spent two days in a hotel before being placed in open GHA homes.
Two of the families declined the accommodations offered them, one family because of a medical condition and the other said she would feel unsafe having her son in that particular community.
At the time of this report, neither family has accepted new GHA lodging and both are currently residing elsewhere until arrangements can be made that are agreeable to all sides.
Donations from the community and volunteers with the Goldsboro Family Y took each of the families shopping with $320 in gift cards Tuesday.
The money was used to replace items lost in the fire and to help save Christmas for all seven children of the various families impacted.