ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 22, 1996 TAG: 9601220074
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
note: above
The house fire that killed four children and their grandmother in Southeast Roanoke apparently started in wiring connected to an electric heater, fire investigators said Sunday.
It is unclear, however, whether the fire started in an electrical outlet, an extension cord or the heater's plug, said Roanoke Fire Chief Jim Grigsby. More-conclusive findings are expected after investigators meet.
Patricia Leftwich, the children's mother, discovered the fire and ran to a neighbor's house to call police after flames kept her from reaching her family upstairs. Grigsby said the call was received at 9:44 p.m., and the first unit arrived at the scene four minutes later.
The neighbor, Elizabeth Wilson, quoted Leftwich as saying she heard a "cracking and popping sound" coming from the wall when she discovered the fire.
Fire investigators said that observation is consistent with an electrical fire.
Grigsby explained how the fire may have started. Electricity moving through a wire generates heat if the connections are not good. The hot wire can melt through the insulation and spark a fire if it comes in contact with a flammable item, such as a rug, he said.
All five victims were killed by smoke and blistering heat, Grigsby said. An autopsy report is expected today.
"I don't remember another fire where we lost five members of the same family in my 30-year career here," District Fire Chief Phillip Taylor said.
The firefighters who fought the blaze rested at home Sunday, but Grigsby said many were still trying to cope with the unsuccessful rescue attempts.
"They're not iron men. They're firefighters," he said. "They have children and are caring human beings. And it affects them, also."
Grigsby said a psychologist was called in early Sunday to talk with the approximately 30 firefighters, police officers and rescue workers at the scene.
Dr. John Heil, a psychologist at Lewis-Gale Clinic who is a member of the team that handles such cases, said it is important for rescue workers to discuss their feelings after a tragedy such as Saturday's fire.
"People get into that kind of work because they like helping people," Heil said. "So they're sensitive to people's predicaments."
In some situations, they want to help but are unable to, Heil said. "It's the plain horror of it."
Heil said this type of therapy for rescue workers is used particularly when there are multiple deaths or when children are involved.
Staff writer Diane Struzzi contributed to this story.
LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines KEYWORDS: FATALITYby CNB