April 30--FUQUAY-VARINA -- Two people died Sunday morning when a fast-moving fire spread through a house at 128 Bridge St.
Police said it was reported that as many as seven people lived in the single-family house. They did say that no children were in the house when firefighters got the alarm at 7:32 a.m.
The first fire units on the scene reported heavy fire in the rear of the house and attacked it with hose lines. The brick house sits on a slope and is one story facing the street; a basement living area is on the back side.
Wake County tax records show the house is owned by Forest Newkirk Jr. and Ruby Newkirk of Raleigh.
Martha McKethen lives across the street from the fire. She said smoke was getting into her house during the blaze. McKethen also said she heard a big boom and thought something had blown up.
"It was just chaos," she said.
Margaret Easton also lives across the street said the smoke made it difficult to even see the burning house.
"When I opened the door, the smoke ... it was so black and dark," she said. "That's when I ran across the street to see what was going on."
Police said officials are still working to determine the cause of the fire. Fuquay-Varina police Capt. Bob Adams said he expects to release the names of the deceased victims Monday.
Copyright 2012 - The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C.
