Fire destroys Allendale Circle house; family, pets escape [News-Topic, Lenoir, N.C.]

Sept. 28--LENOIR -- David Mitchell returned home, the house on Allendale Circle in southwest Caldwell County that he shares with his parents, who have lived there for 49 years, about 11 p.m. Friday and noticed smoke coming from a duct, then saw what he said was some small flames.

Thinking the fire was manageable, Mitchell woke his father to ask where there was a fire extinguisher.

But he soon the fire was beyond his control, called 911 and made sure his father, Bob Moore, and the family's three dogs and one of two cats got out of the house safely. A firefighter later went into the burning house and rescued the other cat. Mitchell's mother, Marian Moore, was at work at Caldwell Memorial Hospital when the fire started.

The Moore family was working Saturday to salvage what they could from the house, which was destroyed.

"You could fly an airplane through that house," Bob Moore said. "It's a total disaster."

Officials at North Catawba Fire Department said the the fire started in the attic, but the cause is still under investigation.

Firefighters remained at the house until approximately 4 a.m. Saturday but had to return about 9 a.m. to extinguish a remaining smoldering area, Marian Moore said.

An insurance adjuster is scheduled to evaluate the home on Monday. Marian Moore said she was unsure whether she and her husband would repair or rebuild the house or move somewhere else.

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