Duplex fire causes $30,500 worth of damage to home and neighbor's residence

Kinston resident Angela Hall rushed over to an adjoining Fox Run duplex at dinner time on Sunday not to borrow sugar from neighbor and friend Mary Kirkland, but to plead for help.

Her kitchen was filled with flames and smoke.

“She knocked on the back window screaming, ‘My house is on fire! Mary, what should I do?’ ” Kirkland said.

Kirkland and Hall immediately called the Kinston Department of Public Safety at 5:38 p.m., standing in their shared backyard and made their way to the front of the row of apartments off Villa Drive.

All stations of the department’s Fire and Rescue Division arrived on the scene five minutes later and had the fire at 2130 Fox Run Drive under control at 6:02 p.m.

“Apparently (Hall) was cooking and left the food unattended,” division Chief Bill Johnson said. “I did not ask what was cooking. The report does not specifically say if grease was involved, but usually that is the case.”

The response was not quick enough, though, to prevent significant damage.

The small fire grew into a blaze that landed $30,000 worth of estimated fire and smoke damages in Hall’s kitchen at the front of the duplex, and $500 worth of damage in Kirkland’s home at 2132 Fox Run Drive.

“Some damage from smoke drifting through the building and very slight water damage from extinguishment was sustained in the apartment next door,” Johnson said.

Nearby residents of Hall evacuated in front of their single-story, wood framed homes for safety and to offer help.

“There was a bunch of people out in the street giving her support,” Kirkland said.

A neighbor of Hall, who lives across the street and wished not to be identified, said those living nearby were concerned.

“There were people I saw out there that I had never seen before,” she said. “Myself and others were concerned. We are all connected and what happens to one duplex could affect others.”

Kirkland said she was impressed by the quick and professional service of KDPS to the subdivision off Rouse Road.

“They were the most courteous group of firefighters,” she said. “I can’t sing their praises enough. That was a fine bunch of young men.”

The department, which is not held responsible for damage as a result of extinguishing a fire, did assist with removing some of the water that accumulated in Kirkland’s apartment.

Kirkland had SERVPRO out to her home Monday to clear the rest of the water. Kirkland said Hall, who could not be reached for comment, planned to have insurance adjusters report to her home Monday.

“The damage to my house was nothing big compared to hers,” Kirkland said of Hall’s home which was charred, with siding peeling off the duplex.

Johnson stresses those cooking to always monitor their food. In the past two weeks, he said the division has responded to five fires sparked by food left cooking unattended.

“Cooking is by far the No. 1 cause of house fires,” Johnson said. “Probably second would be careless smoking or malfunctioning heating sources.”

He said it is a problem that easily can be avoided.

“What it really comes down to is people more closely watching food when they are cooking,” he said.

Wesley Brown can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wbrown@freedomenc.com.

Most common causes of Kinston house fires

1. Cooking (food left unattended on stoves, ovens)

2. Household appliances (candles, heaters, irons)

3. Cigarette smoking

4. Arson

5. Electrical systems (overloaded, old circuits)

Source: KDPS