Ten to 15 minutes more, John Wright and his family might not have walked away from a fire his son awakened to Sunday morning.
Wright said the cause of the fire remains undetermined but he said today it is suspected it started in a receptacle and not from a space heater as originally reported by the Roanoke Rapids Fire Department Monday.
Wright said the space heater was not turned on and was on the opposite side of where it is believed the fire started.
Wright said his son, also named John, was sleeping when he felt heat on his leg. “He pulled the blanket and the blanket was on fire. He tried to quash the fire with the blanket. The fire was already burning inside the wall.”
An old fireplace that was covered might have fed air to the fire, Wright said.
His son went to his brother’s room and woke him up. Wright said the heat was so intense he couldn’t get upstairs to check. “If it was 10 to 15 minutes later, none of us would get out.”
The Roanoke Rapids Fire Department received the call around 4 a.m.
Firefighters observed heavy smoke coming from the second floor on the left side of the house, which is located at 611 Washington Street.
Firefighters established a water supply at 6th and Washington streets and made an interior attack to knock down the fire and put out hotspots.
The scene was deemed under control in about 45 minutes.
There was major fire damage to the bedroom. The rest of the house sustained water and smoke damage.
Since the fire numerous people have come forward to help the family with their immediate needs and clothing.
The family watched the fire from an ambulance. “I just want people to know how grateful we are to the Roanoke Rapids Fire Department,” Wright said. “We thought it was out of control. They went to fight the fire up through the window and put the fire out. It gutted the upstairs without burning the downstairs. We were 15 minutes away from not getting out of the house.”
