THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 21, 1995 TAG: 9511210286
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
While neighbors watched firefighters douse the burning house in Colonial Place, their worst fears were realized: Charles and Emma Demary, the older couple who lived there, were inside.
``They were lovely people. Very godly, very gentle. . . ,'' said Margaret Cheney, who lives next door. ``They gave till it hurt.''
The Rev. Charles Demary, 62, and Emma Arnecia Demary, 64, perished in the devastating two-alarm fire that engulfed their home early Monday morning in the 600 block of Georgia Ave. A son living there escaped.
Charles Demary was pastor at the small Gospel Chapel Holiness Church, located near the corner of Shoop Avenue and Tidewater Drive. His wife also was active in the church.
The blaze was first reported at 3:01 a.m. When units arrived five minutes later, the two-story frame house was engulfed in flames.
Cheney said she was awakened by sirens and shouting. She then raced from her bedroom to a stairway window that faces the Demary home.
``The window was all orange with fire,'' Cheney said.
She stood in the chill air among neighbors, family and friends of the Demarys who gathered to comfort one another and await news of any survivors.
Cheney said she did not know the Demarys well but saw how they lived.
``They laid their treasures in heaven,'' Cheney said. ``That's what they were like.''
Elizabeth Barron, who lives a few houses away, said that when she ran out to see what the commotion was about, she saw flames pouring from the front and top of the house.
``We heard something like firecrackers,'' she said. ``It sounded like something popping or blowing up.''
Fire investigators said the fire appeared to be caused by a kerosene heater in the front room.
The house was gutted, hindering the firefighting and rescue efforts, fire officials said.
``The whole front of the building collapsed,'' said Ronald Wakeham, director of Fire and Paramedical Services.
Firefighters tried to enter through through rear of the home, but flames kept them back. The danger increased when power lines fell.
One firefighter suffered smoke inhalation and was treated at the scene. Another firefighter suffered a serious knee injury and was taken to DePaul Medical Center.
The fire was brought under control at 4:18 a.m. Just before sunrise, fire fighters shut off the water hoses and began to sift through the wreckage. Emma Demary was found dead just before 8 a.m. Her husband was found about 10:30.
Police believe 39-year-old Joseph Demary, who was living with his parents, was the only other person in the house. He told police he was unable to get upstairs to his parents because of the intense flames.
According to Demary, the house had a smoke detector, but he did not believe the battery was working, police said.
Family and neighbors agreed the Demarys were well-loved.
Donna Sykes, who grew up a few houses away from the Demarys, said Emma Demary cared for children during the day. Charles Demary, on the other hand, took in dozens of cats and dogs, she said.
``They were very religious,'' said Sykes, 30. ``That's one thing I can say about them. They're in heaven.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by TAMARA VONINSKI, The Virginian-Pilot
Levi Fillmore, with the Norfolk Fire Department, takes a break from
the scene of the fire that killed the Demarys.
Color photos
Rev. Charles Demary in a 1982 photo
Emma Arnecia Demary last Christmas
KEYWORDS: FIRE FATALITY by CNB