March 05--DAVIDSON COUNTY -- The community surrounding the town of Wallburg is in mourning after a mobile home fire early Tuesday killed a mother and her two children and left the father of the family suffering severe burns.
Authorities say the fire started around 2 a.m. Tuesday at the home in the K&T mobile home park off N.C. 109 near Wallburg Elementary School in the town at the tip of northeastern Davidson County.
Authorities on Tuesday afternoon weren't releasing the names of the victims. But a friend of the family -- Kimberly Embry of Thomasville -- verified that Kelly Stacey, her 3-year-old son Zachary and 8-year-old daughter Kaylee died in the blaze. The fire charred the mobile home and left it gutted.
The father, Blake Stacey, was injured by the flames and taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for treatment. He was in good condition Tuesday afternoon, a hospital spokesman said.
"Words can't describe what a tragedy it is for any lives to be lost in any kind of fire, let alone small children and a mother," said Wallburg Mayor Allen Todd. "Our heart goes out to the folks. Words just aren't comfort enough in a situation like this."
Embry, who knew Kelly Stacey for most of her life, said she was a caring, stay-at-home mother who was kind to people and devoted to her children. The family just celebrated their daughter's birthday, Embry told The High Point Enterprise.
"We're all just in a state of shock about it," Embry said. "Kelly was just a very sweet person, always had a smile on her face. No matter what the circumstances were, she was always thinking about other people."
Kelly Stacey, who was 32, was a regular customer at the Tangles Hair Salon in Thomasville where Embry works. She always brightened the atmosphere at the salon when she visited, Embry said.
Wallburg Fire Department Chief Mark Reid said the cause of the fire has been ruled as undetermined.
"The point of origin was the kitchen area of the trailer, and we can't rule out maybe an overloaded circuit in the trailer," Reid said.
The mother and her two children were pronounced dead at the scene. When firefighters arrived at the mobile home park, the fire was fully involved, Reid said.
Todd, who didn't know the family, went to the scene at lunchtime Tuesday. He said the tragedy will resonate with those who live in the town with a population of about 3,000 people.
"I'm always one that tries to find something positive in a situation, but I can't find anything positive in this at all," Todd said.
The mayor, who has lived in Wallburg more than 50 years, said the fire represents one of the most devastating tragedies during his time here.
Todd said that he and other people in Wallburg are left relying on their faith to comprehend how a mother and her two children could lose their lives in such an awful fashion.
"You just put your faith in God," the mayor said. "That's where it all comes back to. Some things we're not supposed to understand."
[email protected] -- 888-3528
Support for the family
Anyone who wants to offer support to the family who lost a mother and her two young children in a fire early Tuesday morning in Wallburg can stop by Tangles Hair Salon at 400 Randolph St. in Thomasville. For more information call the salon at 472-7797.
Copyright 2014 - The High Point Enterprise, N.C.
