Long View man dies after being pulled from burning home

LONG VIEW, N.C. — A man has died after being pulled out of a burning home Thursday night in Long View, family members told Channel 9.

Fire crews responded to the fire call around 6:30 p.m. on Main Avenue Drive Northwest.

When they arrived, heavy smoke and flames could be seen coming from the building and firefighters had to force open the front door to get in.

"You can't see anything, maybe 3 inches in front of you," Capt. Barry Sigmon with Long View fire said. "That's about all you can really see. We're going mainly on feel as we crawl through."

They found Kevin Christenbury, 45, lying on the floor in the living room. After realizing he was in cardiac arrest, firefighters performed CPR and, after several minutes, were able to revive the man,

Paramedics took him to Frye Regional Hospital where he later died.

"They put their lives on the line to save people's lives,” neighbor Paula Jones said. “And you have to commend them and I certainly do."

"He was a very kindhearted person. He'd give you the shirt off his back," said ex-wife Natasha Steele.

The SBI is assisting in the investigation.

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