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Sheriff: Firefighters risked their lives to try, save woman from burning home

By Dave Faherty, wsoctv.com
By Dave Faherty, wsoctv.com

NEWLAND, N.C. — Deputies and SBI agents were investigating after a woman was killed Thursday in an early-morning house fire in Avery County.

Authorities were called to the home on Millers Gap Highway, just outside Newland, around 5 a.m. after a passerby spotted flames.

Channel 9 was told that fire crews spotted Michele Warren inside and rushed into the home to pull her out, but she did not survive.

"They (did) everything humanly possible, risking their own lives to go in there, doing the job that they are trained to do,” Avery County Sheriff Kevin Frye said. “Unfortunately, it did not work out and our thoughts and prayers go out to this family."

Investigators told Channel 9 that Warren's husband was at work when the fire started.

Neighbor Jean Buchanan awoke to the sound of the fire trucks around 5 a.m. She said her thoughts are with the family and the firefighters who went inside.

"They do an amazing job and I know they did everything they could do, and my prayers are with the families and the firefighters," Buchanan said.

Chuck Clark sold a car to the couple who lived at the home, and he respects what firefighters do on a daily basis.

"They're fantastic guys,” Clark said. “They all work really hard and I'm sure glad they're here when we need them."

The fire marshal said it may be sometime next week before they're able to release a cause of the fire.  The sheriff said they don't see anything suspicious.

Four fire departments responded to the scene and the Fire Marshal's office is also investigating the fire.

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