Fire destroys Castle Hayne mobile home, leaves woman without home
CASTLE HAYNE, NC (WWAY)– In the span of two weeks, another mobile fire home has occurred.
“Some of my memories are gone,” said Kathy Sprinkles after seeing her windows, doors, and the inside of her home completely gone because of a fire.
“The fire department got here pretty quick, even though it seemed like it was forever,” said Sprinkles. “I had the water hose trying to put it out, but it was just no good.”
Around 12 A.M. Saturday, Sprinkles was sleeping in her mobile home at 4504 Castle Heights in Castle Hayne, when she was awakened by the sudden smell and sight of fire spreading throughout her home.
New Hanover Fire Rescue tells us no one died, with only two people being sent to the hospital, but there were other victims.
“My friend lost a dog in the fire. He is in Chapel Hill with smoke in his lungs,” said Sprinkles. “He was after his dog, Belle. My dog, Deuce, made it.”
The other person who was sent to the hospital was a man named Tommy, who she says started the fire while smoking a cigarette inside the house and didn’t put it out.
“It started in the back bedroom, and that’s where he was,” said Sprinkles.
Out of the goodness of her heart, she says she was letting the man stay over, something she has always done when people would ask for help, but didn’t know what those actions would lead to.
“You never know when it’s going to happen to you, you never know,” said Sprinkles.
This is the second mobile home fire in two weeks.
A Northwest family experienced a terrible loss, with the fire killing 3-year-old Paisley and 1-year-old Landon Presnell. Two people were sent to the Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Chapel Hill: the father, Dustin Presnell, and his 8-year-old stepdaughter, Letty. A few weeks later, a friend of the family tells us that they are slowly recovering, with Presnell being able to walk slowly and Letty not having to be sedated anymore for pain. The friend of the family says they are projected to be in the hospital for another month.
Mobile homes account for 6 percent of residential fires. Mobile Home Digest, an organization that informs people about the world of mobile homes, claims this happens because mobile homes are much smaller, which can cause fire to spread at a much faster rate. It also says that most older units lack modern fire-resistant materials and have outdated wiring.
Those are sobering statistics for Sprinkles, who now has only some things left, like clothes, jewelry, pictures, and a swing set where her grandchildren would play.
Despite the loss, she isn’t alone. Her family and friends hope to get her back on her feet by supporting her any way they can.
“My friends and family are here; they are not rich people, but they are here,” said Sprinkles.
To help support the family, go to their fundraiser for any donations.
The case is still under investigation.
