THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 29, 1995 TAG: 9507290275
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: KITTY HAWK LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
With blue eyes magnified behind wire-rimmed glasses, Robbie Harris looks like a 3-foot Clark Kent.
And while he can't run faster than a speeding bullet, or overpower a locomotive, the 7-year-old's quick thinking may have saved the lives of a neighborhood couple and their three small children.
``I went over across the road to shoot hoops,'' Robbie said. ``I was playing and I went and looked in and there was a big fire. I ran up the steps and told them the house was on fire.''
Then he ran home, tried to call 911 and told his parents about the fire. They notified firefighters.
The blaze destroyed the home of Dan and Cynthia Byers at 300 W. Lillian St., a quiet north beach neighborhood. The fire, which officials said started accidentally on a lower floor in the two-story house, spread quickly. It is still under investigation.
Kitty Hawk Fire Chief Lowell Spivey said Robbie's quick thinking may have kept a family celebration from turning into tragedy. Earlier in the day, the Byers had celebrated the birthday of their youngest child, Erin. Just hours before the blaze, the house had been filled with children.
Cynthia Byers was asleep when Robbie knocked on their door. The family escaped without injury.
``When we arrived at the scene, flames were shooting out of the windows, and the roof had already opened itself up. If it hadn't been for Robbie, it could have been really bad,'' Spivey said.
Cindy Harris said her son had just gone out to play basketball when he darted back into the house.
``He ran in and went to the phone and tried to call 911,'' she said. ``I asked him what he was doing and he told me, and he said the house was on fire.''
Cindy's husband, Dana, a North Carolina highway patrolman, glanced at the Byers' house and saw the flames.
``Dana looked out, and said `Call 911. NOW!' ''
Firefighters arrived within minutes. The blaze was visible for miles. Spivey said dispatchers received 20 calls about the blaze.
The heat from the fire was so intense that it melted exterior paneling on the Harris' house.
Robbie, who will return to Kitty Hawk Elementary School in about a month, said he learned about calling 911 from his father, and from swimming lessons at the local pool. Dana Harris said his son's actions may have prevented the fire from leaping to other homes.
``It could have easily spread to our house if Robbie hadn't done what he did,'' Dana Harris said. ``I think he's a hero.'' ILLUSTRATION: HE SAVED FIVE LIVES
[Color Photo]
PAUL AIKEN
Staff
Robbie Harris, 7, alerted his Kitty Hawk neighbors Wednesday when a
fire rushed through their Lillian Street home. After getting the
attention of neighbors, who have three children, Robbie ran to his
own home and tried to call 911.
by CNB