Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 15, 1995 TAG: 9501170062
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Two unrelated fires occurred on 13th Street Friday - less than 20 hours apart. One gutted The Corner Store; the other killed two people and destroyed several apartments.
Several people in front of the store scanned newspapers, searching for details of the two deadly blazes that dominated the group's conversation.
Fire hit The Corner Store early Friday morning, leaving only charred merchandise for owner Joseph Kirk, who hopes to reopen.
``All we got left is four walls and the floor,'' Kirk said.
Later that same day, two people were killed when an apartment building, less than two blocks from Kirk's store, caught fire about 9:45 p.m.
The body of 28-year-old Barbara Marie Hardy was found outside the apartment building at 414 1/2 13th St. Police believe she jumped from her second-floor apartment to escape the fire. Medical Examiner David Oxley said Saturday that an autopsy revealed that Hardy died from smoke inhalation and burns.
Police said Saturday that the fire's second victim, who died of smoke inhalation, still had not been identified. Firefighters found his body - burned beyond recognition - on a bed in Hardy's apartment.
Neighbors said Hardy had a boyfriend who often stayed at her apartment.
Kirk said Hardy, a frequent customer at his store, also had two small children, who were at church with Hardy's sister when the fire started.
Fire officials weren't certain of the cause of either of the 13th Street blazes, but they don't think there is any connection between them.
Kirk said the Southwest Roanoke neighborhood has had more than its share of fires in recent history.
He turned in every direction and pointed out burned-out buildings in the neighborhood.
``We've had a rash of fires around here,'' he said.
Keywords:
FATALITY
by CNB