Two fires under investigation
By Other
Published in News on April 12, 2005 1:46 PM
Four house fires that caused about $53,100 in damages were put out in March by the Goldsboro Fire Department. They were among the 188 fire and service calls that the department answered in the month.
Two house fires that occurred March 4 were referred to Goldsboro police for a further investigation of the cause.
Sgt. David Kelly said Monday that the State Bureau of Investigation is assisting the police. Samples were collected from both fires and taken to the SBI crime lab for analysis.
When firefighters arrived March 4 at 901 N. Center St., they found the house engulfed in flames. The property, valued at $35,000, was destroyed. A neighbor saw the fire and then called 911. The owner has not been identified.
An earlier fire on March 4 also damaged a vacant house at 1101 N. Center St. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze. Damage was estimated at $3,000 to the home that was valued at $45,000. A police officer on patrol saw the fire and notified the Fire Department. The owner of the two-floor, wood-frame house was listed as Derrick L. Sauls of Raleigh.
The other two fires happened March 31. A vacant home under renovation at 215 Herbert St. was damaged by a fire that had started around copper pipes where workers had connected a joint earlier in the day. The one-floor brick home, owned by Terrance Watson of Fayetteville, sustained about $15,000 in damages. It was valued at $85,000.
Less than an hour later, firefighters went to a kitchen fire at 210-B Fussell St. The occupant, Thelma Allen, had put out the fire by the time firefighters arrived. Grease had spilled from a pot and ignited. Damage was set at $100.
The apartment was valued at $80,000 and contents were valued at $10,000.
Fire Chief Bobby Greenfield reported in March that department personnel took part in 520 hours of company training and 2,028 hours of individual training. The department taught fire prevention to a day care conference and Kitty Askins Hospice staffers. Eighty people toured the fire safety house on Berkeley Boulevard, and 64 Carver Heights students toured the headquarters station.