Published in the Sampson Independent
on Oct. 2, 1978. By Jim Parker.
Two Sisters die in Sunday Morning Fire
Two young sisters, students in the kindergarten and second grades at Kerr Elementary School in Clinton, died of smoke inhalation early Sunday morning when fire of undertermined origin caused severe damage to their home off Highway 701 behind L.A. Edwards farm equipment company.
The dead sisters are Paula Marie Avery, 7, and Tammy Renee Avery, 5, daughters of Mrs. Kathleen Avery and Glenn Avery. Their older sister, Kathy Sue, 9, and their mother escaped from the burning home, but the two younger children were overcome by smoke and were removed from the house by members of the Clinton-Sampson Rescue Squad.
The fire occurred about 1 a.m. Sunday morning. James A. Guy, who lives across the street from the Avery home, said that Mrs. Avery came to his door, screaming that the house was on fire and that two of the children were trapped inside in two bedrooms. He said that he called the fire department and the rescue squad and then went to front and back bedrooms of the house, where he knocked out the windows and attempted to enter, but was driven back by heavy smoke and heat.
Guy said that Mrs. Avery told him that she was awakened by the heat and smoke and that she broke the window of her bedroom and pushed the older daughter, who was sleeping with her, out the window, then tried to get the two younger children, who were sleeping down the hall in separate bedrooms. She was finally forced to climb though the window herself and leave the children inside. Her arms were cut by the jagged window glass as she climbed out.
Fireman arrived soon after to find flames coming out of the kitchen and into the carport of the home. David and Darryl Hawkins, both members of the Clinton-Sampson Rescue Squad, went to the two bedrooms where the children were thought be and Darryl Hawkins climbed in through the window and removed one of the children from the bed where she was lying. David Hawkins went after the other child, but was driven back twice by smoke before he found her lying face down on the hall floor just outside her bedroom. Both children were given mouth to mouth rescusitation and CPR as soon as they were removed from the house and were taken to Sampson County Memorial Hospital, where they were pronounced dead upon arrival.
Neither child suffered burns and acting coroner Lynwood Hall said they both died from smoke inhalation.
The older child, Kathy Sue, and Mrs Avery were treated at the hospital and released.
Fire Cheif, Max Price, who was out of town for the weekend, said that reports from his department indicated that the fire started in the kitchen areas and that damage to the rest of the house was caused by smoke and heat. The den-kitchen was completely gutted by the fire.
Detective Sergeant Ronnie Alderman of the Sampson County Sheriffs Department, ordered an arson investigation and Bob Adams, an arson expert with the State Bureau of Investigations, made a thorough search of the burned out dwelling Sunday.
Alderman said Monday morning that the investigation was routine since two deaths were involved and that it had turned up no indication of arson.
Published in the Sampson Independent
on Oct. 4, 1978
Fire origin in rotor
The fire that killed two Clinton children Sunday morning began in the motor of a television antenna rotor in the den of the house, according to Detective Sgt. Ronnie Alderman, of the Sampson County Sheriff's Department.
Alderman said investigators had originally though the fire had started in the television set on the north wall of the den. But they discovered that the rotor, which was on the floor under the TV set, was the actual cause.
An electrical engineer from Raleigh has confirmed that the rotor was the cause of the fire, he said.
The children's mother, Kathleen Avery, told investigators the rotor had been sticking lately.
The investigation, conducted by the SBI and the sheriff's department, has revealed no evidence of arson, Alderman said, adding that a rumor that arson was involved that has been circulating around town is untrue.
The two children, Paula Marie Avery, 7, and Tammy Renee Avery, 5, died in the fire. Their mother and nine year old sister, Kathy Sue, escaped from the burning house.
on Oct. 2, 1978. By Jim Parker.
Two Sisters die in Sunday Morning Fire
Two young sisters, students in the kindergarten and second grades at Kerr Elementary School in Clinton, died of smoke inhalation early Sunday morning when fire of undertermined origin caused severe damage to their home off Highway 701 behind L.A. Edwards farm equipment company.
The dead sisters are Paula Marie Avery, 7, and Tammy Renee Avery, 5, daughters of Mrs. Kathleen Avery and Glenn Avery. Their older sister, Kathy Sue, 9, and their mother escaped from the burning home, but the two younger children were overcome by smoke and were removed from the house by members of the Clinton-Sampson Rescue Squad.
The fire occurred about 1 a.m. Sunday morning. James A. Guy, who lives across the street from the Avery home, said that Mrs. Avery came to his door, screaming that the house was on fire and that two of the children were trapped inside in two bedrooms. He said that he called the fire department and the rescue squad and then went to front and back bedrooms of the house, where he knocked out the windows and attempted to enter, but was driven back by heavy smoke and heat.
Guy said that Mrs. Avery told him that she was awakened by the heat and smoke and that she broke the window of her bedroom and pushed the older daughter, who was sleeping with her, out the window, then tried to get the two younger children, who were sleeping down the hall in separate bedrooms. She was finally forced to climb though the window herself and leave the children inside. Her arms were cut by the jagged window glass as she climbed out.
Fireman arrived soon after to find flames coming out of the kitchen and into the carport of the home. David and Darryl Hawkins, both members of the Clinton-Sampson Rescue Squad, went to the two bedrooms where the children were thought be and Darryl Hawkins climbed in through the window and removed one of the children from the bed where she was lying. David Hawkins went after the other child, but was driven back twice by smoke before he found her lying face down on the hall floor just outside her bedroom. Both children were given mouth to mouth rescusitation and CPR as soon as they were removed from the house and were taken to Sampson County Memorial Hospital, where they were pronounced dead upon arrival.
Neither child suffered burns and acting coroner Lynwood Hall said they both died from smoke inhalation.
The older child, Kathy Sue, and Mrs Avery were treated at the hospital and released.
Fire Cheif, Max Price, who was out of town for the weekend, said that reports from his department indicated that the fire started in the kitchen areas and that damage to the rest of the house was caused by smoke and heat. The den-kitchen was completely gutted by the fire.
Detective Sergeant Ronnie Alderman of the Sampson County Sheriffs Department, ordered an arson investigation and Bob Adams, an arson expert with the State Bureau of Investigations, made a thorough search of the burned out dwelling Sunday.
Alderman said Monday morning that the investigation was routine since two deaths were involved and that it had turned up no indication of arson.
Published in the Sampson Independent
on Oct. 4, 1978
Fire origin in rotor
The fire that killed two Clinton children Sunday morning began in the motor of a television antenna rotor in the den of the house, according to Detective Sgt. Ronnie Alderman, of the Sampson County Sheriff's Department.
Alderman said investigators had originally though the fire had started in the television set on the north wall of the den. But they discovered that the rotor, which was on the floor under the TV set, was the actual cause.
An electrical engineer from Raleigh has confirmed that the rotor was the cause of the fire, he said.
The children's mother, Kathleen Avery, told investigators the rotor had been sticking lately.
The investigation, conducted by the SBI and the sheriff's department, has revealed no evidence of arson, Alderman said, adding that a rumor that arson was involved that has been circulating around town is untrue.
The two children, Paula Marie Avery, 7, and Tammy Renee Avery, 5, died in the fire. Their mother and nine year old sister, Kathy Sue, escaped from the burning house.
Published in the Sampson Independent
on Oct. 2, 1978. By Jim Parker.
Two Sisters die in Sunday Morning Fire
Two young sisters, students in the kindergarten and second grades at Kerr Elementary School in Clinton, died of smoke inhalation early Sunday morning when fire of undertermined origin caused severe damage to their home off Highway 701 behind L.A. Edwards farm equipment company.
The dead sisters are Paula Marie Avery, 7, and Tammy Renee Avery, 5, daughters of Mrs. Kathleen Avery and Glenn Avery. Their older sister, Kathy Sue, 9, and their mother escaped from the burning home, but the two younger children were overcome by smoke and were removed from the house by members of the Clinton-Sampson Rescue Squad.
The fire occurred about 1 a.m. Sunday morning. James A. Guy, who lives across the street from the Avery home, said that Mrs. Avery came to his door, screaming that the house was on fire and that two of the children were trapped inside in two bedrooms. He said that he called the fire department and the rescue squad and then went to front and back bedrooms of the house, where he knocked out the windows and attempted to enter, but was driven back by heavy smoke and heat.
Guy said that Mrs. Avery told him that she was awakened by the heat and smoke and that she broke the window of her bedroom and pushed the older daughter, who was sleeping with her, out the window, then tried to get the two younger children, who were sleeping down the hall in separate bedrooms. She was finally forced to climb though the window herself and leave the children inside. Her arms were cut by the jagged window glass as she climbed out.
Fireman arrived soon after to find flames coming out of the kitchen and into the carport of the home. David and Darryl Hawkins, both members of the Clinton-Sampson Rescue Squad, went to the two bedrooms where the children were thought be and Darryl Hawkins climbed in through the window and removed one of the children from the bed where she was lying. David Hawkins went after the other child, but was driven back twice by smoke before he found her lying face down on the hall floor just outside her bedroom. Both children were given mouth to mouth rescusitation and CPR as soon as they were removed from the house and were taken to Sampson County Memorial Hospital, where they were pronounced dead upon arrival.
Neither child suffered burns and acting coroner Lynwood Hall said they both died from smoke inhalation.
The older child, Kathy Sue, and Mrs Avery were treated at the hospital and released.
Fire Cheif, Max Price, who was out of town for the weekend, said that reports from his department indicated that the fire started in the kitchen areas and that damage to the rest of the house was caused by smoke and heat. The den-kitchen was completely gutted by the fire.
Detective Sergeant Ronnie Alderman of the Sampson County Sheriffs Department, ordered an arson investigation and Bob Adams, an arson expert with the State Bureau of Investigations, made a thorough search of the burned out dwelling Sunday.
Alderman said Monday morning that the investigation was routine since two deaths were involved and that it had turned up no indication of arson.
Published in the Sampson Independent
on Oct. 4, 1978
Fire origin in rotor
The fire that killed two Clinton children Sunday morning began in the motor of a television antenna rotor in the den of the house, according to Detective Sgt. Ronnie Alderman, of the Sampson County Sheriff's Department.
Alderman said investigators had originally though the fire had started in the television set on the north wall of the den. But they discovered that the rotor, which was on the floor under the TV set, was the actual cause.
An electrical engineer from Raleigh has confirmed that the rotor was the cause of the fire, he said.
The children's mother, Kathleen Avery, told investigators the rotor had been sticking lately.
The investigation, conducted by the SBI and the sheriff's department, has revealed no evidence of arson, Alderman said, adding that a rumor that arson was involved that has been circulating around town is untrue.
The two children, Paula Marie Avery, 7, and Tammy Renee Avery, 5, died in the fire. Their mother and nine year old sister, Kathy Sue, escaped from the burning house.
on Oct. 2, 1978. By Jim Parker.
Two Sisters die in Sunday Morning Fire
Two young sisters, students in the kindergarten and second grades at Kerr Elementary School in Clinton, died of smoke inhalation early Sunday morning when fire of undertermined origin caused severe damage to their home off Highway 701 behind L.A. Edwards farm equipment company.
The dead sisters are Paula Marie Avery, 7, and Tammy Renee Avery, 5, daughters of Mrs. Kathleen Avery and Glenn Avery. Their older sister, Kathy Sue, 9, and their mother escaped from the burning home, but the two younger children were overcome by smoke and were removed from the house by members of the Clinton-Sampson Rescue Squad.
The fire occurred about 1 a.m. Sunday morning. James A. Guy, who lives across the street from the Avery home, said that Mrs. Avery came to his door, screaming that the house was on fire and that two of the children were trapped inside in two bedrooms. He said that he called the fire department and the rescue squad and then went to front and back bedrooms of the house, where he knocked out the windows and attempted to enter, but was driven back by heavy smoke and heat.
Guy said that Mrs. Avery told him that she was awakened by the heat and smoke and that she broke the window of her bedroom and pushed the older daughter, who was sleeping with her, out the window, then tried to get the two younger children, who were sleeping down the hall in separate bedrooms. She was finally forced to climb though the window herself and leave the children inside. Her arms were cut by the jagged window glass as she climbed out.
Fireman arrived soon after to find flames coming out of the kitchen and into the carport of the home. David and Darryl Hawkins, both members of the Clinton-Sampson Rescue Squad, went to the two bedrooms where the children were thought be and Darryl Hawkins climbed in through the window and removed one of the children from the bed where she was lying. David Hawkins went after the other child, but was driven back twice by smoke before he found her lying face down on the hall floor just outside her bedroom. Both children were given mouth to mouth rescusitation and CPR as soon as they were removed from the house and were taken to Sampson County Memorial Hospital, where they were pronounced dead upon arrival.
Neither child suffered burns and acting coroner Lynwood Hall said they both died from smoke inhalation.
The older child, Kathy Sue, and Mrs Avery were treated at the hospital and released.
Fire Cheif, Max Price, who was out of town for the weekend, said that reports from his department indicated that the fire started in the kitchen areas and that damage to the rest of the house was caused by smoke and heat. The den-kitchen was completely gutted by the fire.
Detective Sergeant Ronnie Alderman of the Sampson County Sheriffs Department, ordered an arson investigation and Bob Adams, an arson expert with the State Bureau of Investigations, made a thorough search of the burned out dwelling Sunday.
Alderman said Monday morning that the investigation was routine since two deaths were involved and that it had turned up no indication of arson.
Published in the Sampson Independent
on Oct. 4, 1978
Fire origin in rotor
The fire that killed two Clinton children Sunday morning began in the motor of a television antenna rotor in the den of the house, according to Detective Sgt. Ronnie Alderman, of the Sampson County Sheriff's Department.
Alderman said investigators had originally though the fire had started in the television set on the north wall of the den. But they discovered that the rotor, which was on the floor under the TV set, was the actual cause.
An electrical engineer from Raleigh has confirmed that the rotor was the cause of the fire, he said.
The children's mother, Kathleen Avery, told investigators the rotor had been sticking lately.
The investigation, conducted by the SBI and the sheriff's department, has revealed no evidence of arson, Alderman said, adding that a rumor that arson was involved that has been circulating around town is untrue.
The two children, Paula Marie Avery, 7, and Tammy Renee Avery, 5, died in the fire. Their mother and nine year old sister, Kathy Sue, escaped from the burning house.
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