Firefighters Rescue North Carolina Man From Burning House

Officials said the response took longer than normal -- 8 minutes.

Nov. 29, 2005

2 min read

A man is in critical condition after being rescued from a house fire in northwest Charlotte.

Fire crews responded to a house fire in the 4100 block of Tillman Avenue. Officials said the fire started in the back of the house around 8:40 a.m. Monday.

Neighbor Andrea Wright ran across the street to help the man inside the burning house.

"All I was concerned about was the fact (that) her brother was in that house. Because the house and all other things are material, you can get those back. But a soul, you can't," said Wright.

Firefighters rescued a 54-year-old man from the burning building. Medic said they performed CPR at the scene and transported the man to Carolinas Medical Center in critical condition.

Officials said the response took longer than normal -- 8 minutes. Charlotte Fire Department spokesman Capt. Rob Brisley said a response time of 4 to 6 minutes or less is always the goal.

According to fire officials, when the call came in, the nearest fire station, No. 13, was empty. Its two companies were responding to two hazmat scenes.

Fire officials said an off-duty fire captain from Fire Station No. 13 came out to the scene and relayed critical information about the fire to crews from Fire Station No. 21 -- four miles away.

"We wish we could be everywhere we can in this city. As we get busier, sometimes we cannot get there quick enough," said Brisley.

Investigators have remained on scene throughout the afternoon, trying to determine the cause of the fire and whether the house had a working smoke detector.

Wright said she's not sure whether her friend's house had smoke detectors, but she does take precautions in the house she rents.

"I have two smoke detectors and a carbon monoxide detector," she said.