THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 3, 1995 TAG: 9511030501
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
An 87-year-old man died Wednesday evening in a house fire that injured another elderly man and three firefighters.
Firefighters were unable to rescue Hezekiah Crocker because the fire was moving rapidly and electrical lines were touching the aluminum siding.
``We couldn't get near the building until Virginia Power came,'' said Driver Volunteer Fire Capt. Clint Forguson. ``The whole time, we knew somebody was in the building, and we couldn't do anything.''
The two-story house in the 5400 block of Gaskins Lane, in northern Suffolk, was destroyed. The fire broke out just before 6 p.m., apparently starting in a portable kerosene heater, fire officials said.
James Delk, 89, who was in the house when the fire broke out, was taken to Maryview Medical Center in Portsmouth and treated for smoke inhalation. He was later released.
Two firefighters had minor injuries, including twisted ankles, and were treated at the Portsmouth hospital's emergency room, Forguson said. A third was treated for electrical shock. They were later released.
Firefighters remained on the scene for seven hours. They were assisted by volunteers from Chuckatuck, who brought a tanker to help supply water to the remote location.
``The major problems were water supply and electricity,'' Forguson said.
Forguson did not know whether Crocker and Delk were related to one another or to Eva Hale, who was listed as the householder. Hale and several others were able to escape.
KEYWORDS: FIRES FATALITY by CNB