Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, December 26, 1993                   TAG: 9312260097
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FIRE LEAVES ROANOKE FAMILY HOMELESS

Vance Napier's home at 1228 Gilmer Ave. N.W. caught fire about 1:40 a.m. Friday, Fire Capt. Billy Obenchain said.

Obenchain estimated there was $30,000 in fire damage and said the house was gutted.

A mentally impaired woman playing with matches started the fire, Obenchain said.

Etta Grant, a cousin of the Napier family, said the family was left with nothing. "All they had was the clothes on their backs, and that was just pajamas," she said.

Grant said Napier, several children and grandchildren were staying with a granddaughter on Christmas Day.