A Fire On Gates Street

LEAD (ON CAM):

UP NOW A FIRE HAS JUST BEEN REPORTED THIS MORNING AT 4416 GATES STREET.

FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED TO THE CALL AT 7:35 TO GRASP AT WHAT WAS LEFT.

THE FIRE WAS DILUTED WITHIN 20 MINUTES ON SCENE.

SO FAR THERE IS $125,00O WORTH OF DAMAGE.

MOLLY MOLLERSON WENT DOWN TO THE SITE TO TALK WITH THE FAMILY.

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AT THE SITE OF THE SCENE THERE IS NOTHING BUT CHARRED MEMORIES.

PICKING THROUGH THE DEBRIS NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS STAND BY.

HELPLESSLY CLEANING WHAT IS SALVAGEABLE.

CHAPEL HILL FIRE CHIEF VIN-SELEN HARR-Y NOW WITH MORE OF THE DETAILS.

<< VINSELEN HARRI 05>>

“THE FIRE IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A FAULTY LAMP CORD IN A

BEDROOM, BUT THE FIRE MARSHALL IS INVESTIGATING. A DOG DIED OF SMOKE

INHALATION UNDER THE LIVING ROOM SOFA. THE HOUSE IS OWNED BY JOHN AND

SUSAN ROBINSON.”

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SUSAN ROBINSON IS STILL AT THE SCENE.

HEARING HER STORY IS HEARTWRENCHING.

HER FRIEND WAS SUPPOSED TO WAKE HER AT 6:45 A.M.

RUSHING OUT THE DOOR SHE MANAGED TO CALL HER AT 7 A.M.

15 MINUTES LATE, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT CALL OF HER LIFE.

THIS PHONE CALL MAY HAVE SAVED HER LIFE.

<< SUSAN ROBINSON: 03>>

“MY BOYS AND I MIGHT HAVE DIED IN OUR SLEEP IF NOT FOR A FRIEND CALLING

ME.”

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SUSAN RECALLS IT AS IF IT WERE ANY OTHER DAY.

EXCEPT THIS DAY WOULD BE DIFFERENT.

JAMES, HER THREE-YEARS-OLD SON WAS EATING CEREAL AT THE DINING TABLE.

BOBBY, HER 5-YEAR-OLD SON, STILL ASLEEP FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE.

STEPPING OUT OF THE SHOWER THE FIRE ALARM WENT OFF.

A SIGN SHE IGNORED.

THOUGHT TO BE COMING FROM THE SHOWER STEAM SHE WENT TO TURN IT OFF.

PULLING OUT THE BATTERY SHE MADE HER WAY TO THE KITCHEN.

FLAMES CONSUMED THE GUEST BEDROOM.

SMOKE SEEPED THROUGH THE DOOR.

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SUSAN ROBINSON SAID: "I JUST STOOD THERE FOR A MINUTE. I WENT NUMB. I RAN

TO THE BOY'S BEDROOM AND GRABBED BOBBY FROM THE TOP BUNK WITH ALL MY

MIGHT. HE WAS STRUGGLING AND SCREAMING BECAUSE I HAD WOKEN HIM UP. I

RAN INTO THE KITCHEN AND GRABBED JAMES. WE RAN TO THE BACK DOOR, BUT IT

WAS LOCKED. I REMEMBERED WE HAD LOCKED THE DEADBOLT. THE KEY WAS ON A

HOOK NEXT TO THE REFRIGERATOR. I DROPPED THE BOYS BY THE DOOR, YELLED AT

THEM TO STAY THERE, RAN, AND GOT THE KEY. THANK GOD THE KEY WAS THERE.

BY THE TIME I GOT BACK TO THE DOOR, THE FIRE WAS STARTING TO COME INTO THE

KITCHEN. IT WAS SO HOT AND SMOKY. MY EYES WERE WATERING AND I COULD

HARDLY BREATHE. MY BABIES WERE SCREAMING. FINALLY, I GOT THE LOCK OPEN

AND WE RAN OUT INTO THE YARD. I'M JUST GLAD TO BE HERE. I DON'T THINK

PEOPLE REALIZE HOW BAD IT WAS. A FEW SECONDS MORE AND I WASN'T GOING TO

BE ABLE TO GET OUT. THE BOYS AND I WOULD HAVE DIED. THAT WOULD HAVE

BEEN TOO MUCH FOR THEIR FATHER TO BEAR. I WOULDN'T HAVE CARED FOR IT

EITHER."

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AFTER BARELY ESCAPING WITH HER BOYS HER HEART SINKS.

BANJO.

THE FAMILIES BELOVING CORGI BANJO HAD BEEN TOO SCARED TO RUN.

LEAVING THE BOYS, SHE SPRINTED TO THE DOOR.

IT WAS TOO LATE.

HE WAS TRAUMATIZED.

HIDDEN UNDER THE COUCH.

WIPING HER TEARS AS SHE TURNED BACK AROUND.

SHE BEGAN YELLING “FIRE” THROUGH THE FEAR.

HOLDING HER BOYS.

HER LIFE FLASHED BEFORE HER EYES.

FELLOW NEIGHBOR AND LONG-TIME FRIEND WAS ALERTED BY THE FIRE OUTSIDE.

<< WARD CLEAVER: 18>>

"I SAW SUSAN RUNNING TOWARD THE HOUSE. SHE WAS DRAGGING THE TWO BOYS

AND SCREAMING ABOUT A FIRE. I GRABBED MY CELL PHONE AND CALLED 9-1-1

WHILE I RAN OUT TO THE YARD. THEN SUSAN RAN BACK TO THE HOUSE. I THOUGHT

SHE WAS CRAZY BUT THEN I HEARD HER YELLING FOR THAT DOG. I HATE IT. THAT

WAS THE FRIENDLIEST DOG. ANYWAY, I COULDN'T BELIEVE ALL THE SMOKE

COMING FROM THE HOUSE. IT WAS AS IF SOMEONE HAD LIT 100 SMOKE BOMBS ALL

AT ONCE. AND THEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND FLAMES SHOT OUT OF THE FRONT

WINDOW. SHE WAS A HERO, THAT SUSAN. SHE SAVED THOSE TWO BOYS AND

HERSELF."

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JOHN ROBINSON ARRIVED ON SCENE AS FAST AS HE COULD.

HE BEGAN TO EXPLAIN HIS MORNING JUST LIKE ANY OTHER.

LEAVING FOR WORK AT SIX SHARP HE DRIVES TO GREENSBORO.

PETRIFIED WHEN HE RECEIVED THE CALL FROM HIS GRIEVING WIFE.

SHEDDING A TEAR AT THE LOSS OF HIS SWEET BANJO.

HE IS BEYOND RELIEVED TO KNOW HIS FAMILY IS SAFE.

<< JOHN ROBINSON :04 >>

"IT SCARED US, BUT WE'RE OK AND THAT'S WHAT MATTERS. THE BOYS ARE UPSET

ABOUT BANJO. HE WAS A GOOD DOG."

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JOHN ROBINSON HAS ASSURED US HIS FAMILY IS SAFE.

STAYING WITH FRIENDS AS LONG AS THEY NEED.

FOR CAROLINA KONNECTION, I’M MOLLY MOLLERSON.

ANCHOR TAG :

IT IS UNCLEAR HOW MUCH IS SALVAGEABLE FROM THE FAMILY HOME.

THE ROBINSONS ARE HOPING TO RECOVER FINANCIALLY FROM THIS BY SPRING.

HOWEVER, UNTIL THERE IS A SURVEY, ALL WILL BE UNCLEAR.