Neighbors Tried To Save Family Killed In Fire

LINCOLNTON, N.C.,None — Neighbors of a family killed in a mobile home fire in Lincolnton told Eyewitness News they tried to help save them.

Shirley Barnes told Eyewitness News she woke up just before 3 a.m. Sunday because her dogs were barking loudly. She looked outside and saw Storm Cook, her 18-year-old neighbor, frantically trying to save his family.

"Todd's son was just running back and forth, (saying), ‘My dad! My dad! Daddy! Daddy,'" Barnes said.

Cook had escaped by jumping out a window.

Barnes said her husband took an air conditioner out of the home on Betterbrook Lane to get to the three others inside, but it was too late.

"When he took it out, it was just smoke galore," she said.

Storm's dad, Todd, his stepmother, Angie, and uncle, Bobby, all died inside the home.

"It was horrifying to know there were three people inside, and we couldn't get to them to save their lives," Barnes said.

Angie Cook worked at Zippers restaurant in Lincolnton as a cook. On Monday, customers donated money for her funeral expenses.

"I've had two or three customers give me $100," said Ralph Rudisill, who owns the restaurant.

Customers and co-workers said they're going to miss Angie's kind spirit.

"She was just as good as she can be," said co-worker Debbie Bailes. "She loved to help anybody in the world if she could."

Angie also had three other children, who live with relatives.

Friends and family told Eyewitness News they're convinced her husband, Todd, died trying to save her.

"He loved her like nobody could love anybody," Bailes said. "He loved her."

Firefighters have not pinpointed an exact cause yet, but said the fire was most likely caused by an electrical source or smoking. Autopsies are being performed to determine exactly how the three people inside died.

It is also not clear yet if the home had working smoke detectors.

WSOC