New smoke alarms alert family of evening blaze

March 14--A Hubert family of four told firefighters they survived a mobile home blaze Friday because of smoke alarms Swansboro Fire Department placed three weeks ago.

The department has a fire-prevention program and services or replaces old smoke alarms. Onslow County Fire Marshal Brian Kelly said the program helped to save the family's life. He also reminded residents to replace batteries in home smoke alarms every daylight saving time, which started 2 a.m. Sunday, and said alarms should be replaced every 10 years.

Interim Chief Art Taylor reached 175 Wildcat Pond Road after a neighbor called 911 at 10:12 p.m. Friday. Upon arrival, tall flames engulfed the diminished structure, Taylor said.

A couple and two children had escaped; the father pushed one child through a window and he, the mother and infant left through the back door. The family's kitten was not found, but firefighters found a puppy's remains, Taylor said.

About a month ago, the family called to have their alarms checked and the fire department installed the two new devices that blared in the smoke Friday night.

Some evidence -- a blown breaker -- supported the possibility that an electrical problem was the cause, Taylor said. The fire was an accident.

They family lost "everything," he added.

"They barely had the clothes on their backs," Taylor said.

The family had fallen asleep together in the living room about 9:30 p.m., he said.

"They had been watching movies," Taylor said. "The girlfriend, the mother of the children, she stated she was in a dreamlike state and she smelled something burning and heard a nagging noise."

She realized the rental was on fire and woke her boyfriend, Taylor added.

In moments, the family escaped and tried to douse the large fire with buckets of water.

The family's car was about 15 feet from the home and was damaged by radiant heat. A live powerline scorched dry grass between theirs and a neighboring vacant mobile home.

"They had no renter's insurance," Taylor said.

American Red Cross provided vouchers for the family's temporary lodging.

Onslow County Fire Marshal Brian Kelly said his office provided some support in the investigation.

"The great thing is, they are alive," he said, adding that such a consequence depended on operable smoke alarms.

Swansboro Fire Department receives a grant from Office of State Fire Marshal for the devices. During inspections, the agency finds many old, inoperable alarms; some as old as the buildings.

"Most of them are just old," Taylor said. "They'll start chirping when they get old and people will get irritated, so they take them down."

- Adjustments and dark mornings

Federal law mandates daylight saving time 2 a.m. the second Sunday of March until 2 a.m. the first Sunday of November except for exempt areas.

The mandate's impact is apparent at Onslow County's 37 public schools, where the first morning of class will require planning for early nights, system spokeswoman Suzie Ulbrich said.

She said many schools had spoken to children's parents and distributed information by social media to ask parents to get children to bed early.

"They let parents know to put them to bed at the same time and get them up early. It's the same for adults," Ulbrich said.

She added that the transition is similar to summer's close and the start of class.

"It helps if you don't let them stay up too late; adults, too," Ulbrich said.

Assistant Jacksonville City Manager Glenn Hargett said the city recommends citizens to heed the potential for hazards during this morning's commute.

"It's going to be a little darker than it was Friday at that same time. Make plans accordingly," Hargett said. "Things keep functioning in the transition, but there may be a lot of clocks that may not be set until (today)."

N.C. Department of Transportation spokesman Brian Rick said drivers should take additional precautions in school zones.

"It's especially important that people be careful around school zones because kids walking or riding bikes to school or even parents dropping kids off," Rick said. "It's important that motorists be aware of it and that they allow a little bit more time in the morning."

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