Fire victim Marvin High (center) surrounded by Nash County firefighters and EMS personnel who took part in his rescue.

Spring Hope Firefighter Chris Chappel with Marvin High who he helped rescue.

NASH COUNTY – 47-year-old Marvin High spent three months at the Chapel Hill Burn Center recovering from second and third degree burns he suffered in an apartment fire on December 28, 2013.

According to Spring Hope Fire Chief David Shelton he received a call from Mr. High saying that he would like to meet the firefighters who saved his life.

On the night of December 28, 2013 Marvin Hill went to bed and when he woke up weeks later he was at the Burn Center. He had no idea what had happened to him. He remained in critical condition for many weeks.

According to Nash County Deputy Fire Marshal Chris Bissette it was a miracle that Mr. High survived this fire. His apartment was fully involved in fire when the first fire units arrived. Over one-third of his apartment was fully involved with flames coming out of the door and windows in the rear and fire extending to the front consuming most of the contents when firefighters arrived.

The next store neighbor woke up to the smoke alarm going off in his apartment and dialed 911. He exited his apartment and went out front and noticed heavy smoke and fire coming from Mr. High’s apartment.

Firefighters were informed that Mr. High was still inside.

Arriving Firefighters from Spring Hope and Momeyer quickly stretched a water line. The front door was made of metal and was steaming hot with black smoke coming out. Firefighters made a forced entry and when the door was finally opened heavy black smoke and fire came roaring out over their heads.

Spring Hope firefighters Chris Chappell, Tyler Hinton and Momeyer firefighters Captain Rance Manning and Fire Chief J. R. Manning entered the blazing apartment.

They were faced with heavy fire conditions due to the burning walls and ceilings and furniture plus heavy heat conditions with thick, black blinding smoke. As they crawled through the burning living room firefighter Chappell made entry to the front bedroom.

He began his search and while crawling on the floor he found Mr. High lying face down between the wall and the bed. At this time Mr. High weighed over 200 pounds and was severely burned from his waist to his head. Firefighter Chappell was unable to remove him due to his weight and quickly asked for help.

Captain Rance Manning and Fire Chief J. R. Manning came to his aid. Firefighter Tyler Hinton stayed with the hose line holding back the flames which now was consuming the furniture in the living room while the three other firefighters removed Mr. High from the blazing apartment. They were met at the front door by other firefighters and Nash County EMS who quickly transported him to the hospital.

According to Fire Marshall Bissette and Fire Chief Shelton, Mr. High did not remember what happened that night until he was told what had happened months latter.

Mr. High thanked them, saying: “It is such a wonderful thing that I’m here and it is a blessing. I am so gracious,” while he spoke to them at the Spring Hope fire station on May 24th, 2014.

Fire Chief Shelton had high praise for his men for their heroic actions.

“They have trained many times over the years in case of an event like this would happen and all their training paid off. It was truly a miracle that this man’s life was saved. If a couple of minutes had passed by and he was not found he would have probably died.”

At least 14 inches of the top of the bedroom door was burned off when firefighter Chappell entered the bedroom. Firefighter Hinton did a heroic job staying with the hose line by holding the flames back while laying on the floor with fire all around him while the other firefighters were removing Mr. High.

Mr. High is slowing recuperating and is able to walk around and hasn’t lost any of his speech.

We wish him the best of luck for a full recovery.

Article and photos courtesy Mr. Bob Bartosz.

Christmas Miracle Rescue in Spring Hope

ORIGINAL ARTICLE from December 28, 2013

NASH COUNTY – Shortly before 04:00 hours on December 28, 2013 Nash County fire units from Spring Hope, Momeyer and Stan Hope were dispatched to 109 North Side Drive in Spring Hope.

According to Nash County Deputy Fire Marshal Chris Bissette the next store neighbor at 110 North Side Drive was awakened by a smoke alarm going off and his apartment was filling up with smoke.

The neighbor called 911 to report the fire and then went next door to try to alert the victim but was unsuccessful. He found the apartment full of smoke and a glow from the kitchen area.

A Spring Hope police officer was now on location and was told by the neighbor that an adult male lived in the apartment where the fire was located. He knew this because his car was still parked in the driveway.

Click thumbnails to view larger images. 

Momeyer Firefighter Tyler Hinton, who manned the hose line during the rescue.

The police officer was unable to enter the burning apartment due to heavy fire and smoke condition.

A Spring Hope Fire Department first-due engine was now arriving along with Momeyer fire department. Heavy smoke and flames were now visible as flames were showing in the rear of the apartment building and heavy black smoke coming out the front.

An 1.75-inch line was quickly placed in service as firefighters forced entry through the front door.

Firefighter Chris Chappel of Spring Hope and Captain Rance Manning of Momeyer along with Assistant Chief J.R. Manning of Momeyer and Firefighter Tyler Hinton of Momeyer made entry into the heavy dense black smoke and fire.

According to Spring Hope Fire Chief David Shelton, the apartment had a front bedroom and a bathroom separating the rear bedroom and a large living room and kitchen.

Most of the rear of the interior was fully involved and flames were spreading up into the front of the apartment.

Firefighters were able to make a quick knockdown of the flames and dark smoke as they entered the front door. Firefighter Chris Chappel, a five-year veteran found the front bedroom door closed and was able to get the door open and crawled into the thick smoke-filled room and began to search for the occupant.

He found a 48-year-old male who weighed over 200 pounds laying on the floor near the front bedroom window. He was unable to lift the man by himself due to his weight and quickly alerted the other firefighters on the hose line that he had a victim and needed help to remove him.

Captain Rance Manning, an eleven year veteran of the fire service and Assistant Chief J.R. Manning, a thirteen year veteran went to assist him. As this was being done Firefighter Tyler Hinton stayed on the hose line attacking the fire, holding the flames back as the three firefighters removed the severely burned victim from the burning apartment.

Two Nash County EMS Units were now arriving on location and were waiting on the front lawn when firefighters brought the victim out of the burning apartment.

EMS transported the victim to Nash General Hospital and he was then flown to Chapel Hill Burn Center.

As this was happening a neighbor informed Spring Hope Firefighter Gene Carlyle that there could possibly be a female with small children in the rear bedroom.

He had seen them a couple of days before. This was quickly relayed to the attack crew that was still fighting the fire inside.

They were able to make their way into the rear bedroom but the search turned out negative for the other people.

According to Chief Shelton the woman and her children were away during the Christmas Holiday visiting family. He said, that it was a miracle that they were not there as they probably would not have made it out of the apartment with the amount of fire and smoke that was in the rear of the apartment,

According to Fire Marshal Bissette the burned victim had received severe burns from the waist up and smoke inhalation and he is in critical but stable condition and apparently will survive due to the quick action of the firefighters.

The Spring Hope Fire Chief had high praise for the firefighters and gave credit to the team work and fire training that they received. He said that his company had handled over 800 calls this year including 199 fire calls. He said that they also saved the lives of two people on EMS calls and credited other fire companies for all their assistance.

According to Fire Marshal Bissette they did a thorough investigation the next morning and it appears that the fire started in the washing machine in the rear of the apartment. The exposure apartment next door received smoke and some water damage.

Over twenty-five fire fighters were on location along with two EMS Units and eight pieces of equipment. Their were no other injuries other than the one burned victim. The Red Cross was call to assisted the occupants of the apartment.

Photos and article from Bob Bartosz.