Fatal Flames
The Montgomery Herald
A heroic effort came up short as neighbors pulled a dying man from a burning trailer in the early morning hours Saturday. The neighbors then continued their efforts by administering CPR, but it was too little, too late. Thirty-five-year-old Matthew Richard Thompson died from smoke inhalation.
According to Biscoe Police Chief James Myrick, the 5:08 a.m. blaze on Shady Oak Drive was spotted by a passing motorist, who stopped and beat on a neighbor's door to alert them to the fire. When officers arrived on the scene, the mobile home was completely engulfed in flames, and neighbors had already pulled Thompson from a back door of the residence and were in the process of administering CPR.
Neighbors speculated that Thompson's 12-year-old daughter might still be in the trailer but she was located at a neighbor's residence where she had spent the night.
The cause of the fire has been determined to be a stove burner that was left on high. Reports indicate that Thompson, who had been living at this location for approximately one month, fell asleep and accidently left the burner on.
The State Bureau of Investigation was called in to assist in this investigation.
NOTE: This call was received by this department at 5:10 a.m. and the first unit was on the scene at 5:14 a.m. where an initial search determined that the daughter was not in the residence.
January 6, 1999
HOLIDAY SPIRIT
The Montgomery Herald
The Biscoe Volunteer Fire Department came to the rescue once again, but this mission had a different twist to it as they were lighting fires instead of putting them out.
As approximately 80 hungry power company linemen from North and South Carolina descended on Montgomery County Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, they found all restaurants and grocery stores in the area closed for the holidays. The linemen, who had come to help in restoring power to hundreds of local residents during the holiday ice storm, were cold and hungry.
After hearing of the need, the Biscoe Fire Department volunteers responded in kind, securing food, lighting grills and serving steaks with all the trimmings to the men who had left their home and families on Christmas Day to help others.
These local volunteers showed the true holiday spirit was alive and well in the small town of Biscoe, North Carolina.
Photofeature by Tammy Dunn
FLIPPING STEAKS - Kelly Kellam, Joe Dawkins and Larry Tingle check to see if the steaks are ready for serving. Back Mike Crisco awaits the word on serving.
MAKING PREPARATIONS - Paula Asbill prepares the salad. Paul Asbill, Andy Lamonds and Mike Crisco fix drinks for the linemen.
December 6, 1998
FIRE DELIVERED TO BISCOE FIREFIGHTERS
The Courier-Tribune
Asheboro, NC
December 3,1998
BISCOE - Biscoe Volunteer firemen found themselves offering a new service Wednesday afternoon - drive-through firefighting.
When a flatbed truck hauling a salvaged city transit bus pulled up to the fire department with the bus in flames, firemen backed a truck out of a bay and extinguished the blaze.
The driver, J.W. Gale of Candor, had emptied his fire extinguisher attempting to put the fire out between Troy and Biscoe.
"I figured I could get to the fire department before they could get to me," Gale said.
Biscoe officer Wally Lemons received a call that a truck was heading east on N.C. 24/27 toward Biscoe with a bus burning on the flatbed.
"When I got behind him, I thought he was going into the turn lane to stop, but he pulled right behind town hall to the fire department," Lemons said.
Biscoe Police Chief James Myrickwas at his desk when he heard a truck pull in and glanced at the window to see a burning bus go by.
"I thought I had seen everything, but a drive-through fire is a first," Myrick said.
Gale, a driver for R & M Trucking, Biscoe, was hauling the bus from Albemarle to Sanford to a salvage yard.
The cause of the fire was unknown. Ricky Blake, owner of R & M Trucking, said there's no telling what's been left in salvage vehicles.
His truck was not damaged.
November 25, 1998
More photos of our recent live burn may be found in Section A, Page 3 of the November 24, 1998 issue of The Montgomery Herald.
We have received notice of a sprinkler recall. For more information please click here to visit the Omega Brand Fire Sprinkler Recall Page.
November 9, 1997
Our annual Christmas Party will be Monday, December 21, 1998 at 7:00 pm. Invitations will be mailed to all guests around the first of December.
July 25, 1998
Biscoe Fire Department has joined a statewide link website for non-profit organizations called NCNeighbors. The site is being provided by the Raleigh News and Observer and our friends at WRAL-TV 5. You can enjoy this site at www.ncneighbors.com/ and search over 550 website catagories to see what's there. Be sure to sign our guestbook.
July 9, 1998
WOO HOO! We made the paper again! Engine 312 was on the front page of Section B in the July 8, 1998 issue of the Montgomery Herald. It looks really good all decked out in red, white and blue (even if the picture **is** in black and white!). Thanks to our friends at the Herald for including us in this issue.
May 20, 1998
The next time you visit Walt Disney World be sure to go by the Firehouse beside the City Hall on Main Street of The Magic Kingdom. Among the collection of patches there you just might find one from Biscoe Fire Department.
April 17, 1998
Be sure to visit our personnel page. We have added the names of our retired members. Their guidance and leadership during the formative years are what makes our department what it is today. We appreciate these special members of our department.
Come back and visit us often!
Get your own Free Home Page