Second fatal house fire in two days reported in Cumberland County
Another house fire in Cumberland County has claimed a life, authorities said in a news release Thursday.
Cumberland County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the residential fire shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday on the 1900 block of Fields Road in Fayetteville.
The Fayetteville Fire Department, along with Vander Fire Department and other mutual aid units, worked to extinguish the fire.
The preliminary investigation revealed that three people occupied the home at the time of the fire, the release stated.
More:Child killed, 3 in critical condition after early morning Linden house fire
“One was unaccounted for, while the other two were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment,” the release stated. “After the fire was extinguished, an extensive search for the third victim was conducted, and the remains of the third victim were located.”
The victim's name is being withheld pending next of kin notification.
The fire is being investigated by Detective R. Tyndall, arson investigator, while the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Arson Unit investigates fires resulting in serious injuries or death.
“While the investigation is still ongoing, there appears to be nothing suspicious about the origin of the fire,” authorities said in the release.
Vander Fire District Chief Richard Bradshaw said crews arriving at the scene found a two-story home “with heavy fire conditions.”
Assisting the Vander Fire District were crews from Fayetteville, Eastover, Stedman, Beaver Dam, Hope Mills and the Cotton Volunteer Fire Department.
Crews remained on the scene until about 10 a.m., Bradshaw said.
Second fire in as many days
The fire is the second in Cumberland County during the past two days, as a separate fire before 2:45 a.m. Wednesday in Linden claimed the life of a young child and has left three other family members in critical condition.
Authorities said there are no signs of foul play in that investigation, either.
Anyone with information about Thursday’s fire is asked to call the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office at 910-677-5499 and ask for Tyndall or call Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).
Anyone with information about Wednesday’s fire can call Crimestoppers or 910-321-6786 and ask for arson investigator T. Whitman.
Crimestoppers information can also be submitted anonymously online or by downloading the free "P3 Tips" app available in the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android devices.
Fire safety
Cumberland County Fire Marshal Kevin Lowther said he doesn’t know what caused the two fires, but said the leading cause of home fires is unattended cooking.
Another cause of house fires this time of year, Lowther said, is dried-out Christmas trees compounded with how extension cords are used.
“Running them under rugs can cause heat,” Lowther said. “And broken lights or frayed wires can cause dried Christmas trees to catch fire.”
Lowther said in many cases of house fires, whether someone is hurt or not, officials notice that there is not a working smoke alarm in the home.
Most smoke detectors have a 10-year lifespan, he said.
Lowther said all Cumberland County residents in city limits and unincorporated areas are eligible for free smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector installation.
Residents can visit the Cumberland County fire marshal website and scroll down to the fire station lookup tool and plug in their address, then call the station to schedule a day and time to have a smoke alarm installed and conduct a home safety risk assessment, he said.
The assessor can let residents know fire risks in their homes, or make recommendations like having a throw ladder for two-story homes and developing an escape plan, Lowther said.
“We offer these services not to write people up, but rather use it as an education piece to build a collaborative relationship with residents,” Lowther said. “Anything we can do to connect our (residents) with resources to make their home safer and have better outcomes to reduce injuries and death, that’s our goal.”
Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Thursday house fire leaves one dead in Cumberland County
