Published: Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at 7:33 a.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at 7:34 p.m.

Firefighters with the Wallburg Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched at 2:19 a.m. Tuesday to the mobile home fire at 8707 N.C. Highway 109 North, Lot 7. Jamie Everhart, a shift supervisor with the Davidson County 911 Center, said the caller reported a mobile home was on fire prior to units arriving on the scene. Firefighters confirmed three people were dead on arrival, he said.

Piner, whose mobile home is less than 20 yards away from the burned residence, identified the mother as Kelly Stacy, 32. The two children are Kailee, 8, and Zachary, 3. The husband, who was injured, is Kenneth Blake Stacy II. Piner said the family celebrated Kailees birthday Sunday at the home that was destroyed in the fire. Kailee was in the second grade at Wallburg Elementary School and turned 8 years old on Feb. 25.

Piners three children were among the estimated 12 youngsters at the birthday party. She recalled Sundays occasion being a blast, with the children running around and eating cake.

They played games, Piner explained. (Kailee) just got a (Nintendo) DS for her birthday. She was excited about her birthday present, and now she is gone.

Its in a blink of an eye. One day you are here and youre fine, youre running around playing, and you see the news, peoples houses are burning down and thats on the news. But when you open up your back door at 2:15 (a.m.) and you watch your neighbors house burn to the ground

Piner said she was awakened by her husband, Christopher. The couple proceeded to find firefighters trying to extinguish the blaze. Piner screamed, Please get the babies out, get the babies out.

I know it didnt matter, said Piner, who has been one of the victims best friends for 15 years. They were trying. They were trying. I wanted them to try harder, but they were trying hard.

Piner said Kelly Stacy was a sweet person who was a stay-at-home mother and was known to take her children to the park and watch them ride bicycles. The friend said the mother, who graduated from East Davidson High School, made sure to take Kailee to school each day. The mobile home park is right beside Wallburg Elementary.

Mark Reid, chief of the Wallburg Volunteer Fire Department, said firefighters arrived to find the mobile home fully engulfed in flames. It took them about 30 minutes to contain the fire, which destroyed the mobile home.

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Fire in Wallburg kills woman and two children

By: Wayne Czybora/Licensed Home Inspector

You flip a switch and the light goes on. You open the refrigerator door and your food is cold. You press the TV remote button and you get to watch your favorite show. All is well with your electrical system, right? Dont count on it. There could be an electrical fire just waiting to happen.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), approximately 46,500 home fires occurred in 2010, resulting in $1.5 billion in property damage, 420 deaths and 1,520 injuries. Faulty wiring is the leading cause of residential fires and the older your house is, the greater the chances that the wiring might be unsafe.

Here is a list of some of the warning signs that homeowners should pay attention to:

-Breakers that trip or fuses that blow repeatedly -Flickering or dimming lights -Deteriorated wire insulation -Sizzling or buzzing sounds emanating from the electrical system -A tingling sensation when you touch an appliance- -Warm, discolored or sparking outlets -Sparks observed in the electrical system -A persistent burning smell from a room or appliance -No ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets at the required rooms

If your house has old knob and tube wiring, which dates back to the early 1900s, it is not uncommon to replace it with modern wiring. At the very least, it should be inspected annually by an electrician to ensure its safety. This type of wiring can become brittle in some areas due to its age and can heat up and cause a fire. It is also very possible that there are exposed wires in some areas that will result in a shock, if touched.

If you do have modern wiring, make sure you have the proper over-current devices (breakers or fuses) in the electrical panel. A breaker or fuse that is too large for the corresponding wire that leads to it can allow the wire to overheat and cause a fire.

Houses built in the 1960s and 1970s may have aluminum wiring instead of copper wiring. The reason for this is because aluminum was cheaper than copper during that time period. There is a greater chance of thermal expansion with aluminum wiring which can cause loose wire connections at the panel, switches, outlets and junction boxes. This can result in a fire, as well. One recommended approach to aluminum wiring is to replace it. Although it is possible to live safely with aluminum wiring but it needs to be inspected by an electrician to ensure the proper steps have been taken to eliminate the possibility of a fire.

Do not overload your circuits with too many power strips or extension cords. If this type of situation exists, there is a good chance you need to upgrade your electrical system.

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Is Your Electrical System Safe? - Real Estate Talk Boston - Boston.com

Ideally, you want to be able to take your home's electrical system for granted. It should power your lights and appliances reliably, safely and invisibly.

But it's important to notice warning signs that an experienced professional should examine a system. Our researchers compiled these indicators, based on interviews with highly rated electricians:

_Flickering lights, a sizzling sound when lights are switched on or off, plugs that spark, plugs that fit loosely in receptacles or lights that dim when appliances start. These may signal a loose wiring connection, which can be a fire hazard.

_Warmth in a wire, extension cord or fuse box. This may indicate a faulty or unsafe wiring connection, which could cause an overload and lead to fire.

_A breaker that repeatedly trips, indicating an overloaded circuit.

_A breaker that never trips, especially in an older home. That may be a sign that your wiring system lacks adequate electrical safeguards.

Also, make sure you know what kind of wiring winds through your home. Copper is the ideal material. Pre-1940s knob-and-tube wiring and 1960s-era aluminum wiring are associated with greater fire risk.

Knob-and-tube systems feature porcelain knobs that anchor wires to studs and floor joists and insulated tubes that carry wires through walls and other obstructions. Such systems have separate hot and neutral wires that run parallel to each other and dissipate heat into the air. They can become a fire hazard if overburdened, improperly retrofitted or come in contact with insulation.

Problems with aluminum wire generally occur at connections, where exposed aluminum wire may rust, resisting current flow and generating heat. Aluminum also expands and contracts in response to load and temperature changes differently than copper or other materials, so connections between aluminum and other metals can lead to problems that reduce conduction.

If you live in an older home and aren't certain of its wiring type or safety status, schedule an inspection by a licensed, experienced electrician.

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Living Smart: Electrical system

By Marivel Resendiz

The Kerrville (Texas) Daily Times

Published: February 28, 2014

HARPER, Texas The Harper community has pulled together for a family that continues to stay strong through multiple obstacles, including losing their home in a fire.

It got so hot, the fire department couldnt pinpoint if it was a loose connection or faulty wiring, Amanda Bennett said. The kitchen island burned to the point where it was a pile of rubble.

A home fire has been minor compared to what the family has been through. Tim Bennett was injured in combat when fighting in Iraq in 2007. A military vehicle he was driving hit an improvised explosive device. Tim Bennett lived through the explosion despite having 70 percent of his body burned and losing his left arm.

The family moved to Harper after the incident so Bennett could live in close proximity to The Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and the Kerrville VA Hospital for ongoing medical support.

The fire and the smoke was pretty hard on my husband, but luckily we werent there, and were all doing OK, Amanda Bennett said. Possessions can be replaced.

Feb. 19 had been a normal day for the Bennett family, filled with usual work, school and sports. Then, while driving down the street from the familys home, Amanda Bennett received a call saying her home was on fire.

We pulled up and the firefighters were there working on it, Bennett said. It was all gone.

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Tragedy in Texas sparks support for wounded warrior

by Barry Davis / KENS 5

kens5.com

Posted on February 27, 2014 at 6:01 PM

SAN ANTONIO -- Paul Farias says he feels a little better about his chances now. The city had given Farias 48 hours to vacate his home, because they said it wasn't safe. An engineer Farias hired to inspect his house indicates it's not as bad as the city inspector said.

Farias saID he has been trying to make repairs but the city has been blocking his permit applications. The foundation needs work, as does the roof and some electrical wiring. But that work can not be done without permits.

The city says it will take the case before the Building Standards Board March 6 and let them make the final decision. Farias intends to take the engineers report with him and, if need be, the engineer himself. Farias said he just wants a little time to make the repairs.

The city said it notified Farias of the problems last June and he hasn't made the repairs yet. Things didn't start to move until the threat of eviction came.

Farias said the only reason they hadn't made the improvements was because of money.

Both sides will have an opportunity to make their case before the city board March 6. The board will then decide whether to allow Farias and his family to make the needed repairs to bring his home up to code, or whether to move forward with plans to have the home demolished.

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Update: Homeowner told their home isn't safe responds with second opinion

by KREM.com

KREM.com

Posted on February 26, 2014 at 3:32 PM

SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. Authorities seized 273 marijuana plants late Tuesday evening at a home near Valleyway Avenue and North Conklin Road. Deputies with the Spokane County Sheriffs Office said the rental home had been converted into a marijuana grow operation.

The wiring and ventilation in the home had been altered to accommodate commercial grow equipment according to authorities. Deputies stated that there were signs of mold growth and other issues in the home associated with long-term indoor grow operations.

Cole Brown, 21, was arrested and booked for manufacturing a controlled substance. Deputies said they plan to make more arrests in the case.

Authorities began watching the house after receiving complaints from neighbors.

Neighbors told investigators that there was suspicious activity at the home. They claimed the renters actually lived down the street in a different house. All of the windows were blacked out and vehicles only parked behind the house according to their complaint.

Investigators witnessed vehicles frequenting the house. The majority of the vehicles had Idaho plates according to deputies.

On Tuesday, deputies stopped Brown and a woman leaving the house. Deputies described both suspects smelling of marijuana. However, the suspects claimed no knowledge of a marijuana grow at the house. They did admit to be staying off and on at the Conklin address and also living in Coeur d Alene. Neither claimed to use or grow marijuana for medicinal reasons according to authorities.

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273 marijuana plants seized from Spokane Valley rental

Provided by Networx.com

Having a house fire is one of my greatest fears, especially when I'm away from home and my paranoia is allowed to imagine up all sorts of horrendous scenarios. I'm the kind of person who checks the stove and heater before leaving the house, fusses over the electrical wiring, and takes special care when snuffing candles -- and not just I remember a friend losing his home to arson when I was a kid.

I always think that one of the best way to deal with your fears is confronting them head on, so I researched the progression of a house fire to understand how and why they happen. Having that information is key to the other part of the battle: reducing the chance that one will happen to me, using sensible, evidence-tested means.

It can take as little as 30 seconds for a small spark to turn into a conflagration from which people have only a few minutes to escape, thanks to the increasing number of highly flammable materials being used in home construction and kept around the home. Synthetic materials are a part of our lives now, but unfortunately, they don't offer the fire resistance available from cotton, wool, linen, and similar fabrics and other natural materials.

Almost half of house fires start in the kitchen, typically on the stovetop, where something boils over and onto a hot burner. That's actually an easy point to catch and stop a fire, if you don't lose your cool: you should have a fire extinguisher rated for kitchen fires in the kitchen, along with baking soda if necessary. Both substances will cut off the supply of oxygen to the fire, knocking out a critical leg of the fire triangle (fuel, air, and heat).

If your kitchen is dirty (including your range top or hood), the fire can spread very fast. Grease may spatter across counters covered in debris, jump to the table, and snake its way across kitchen messes, with flames leaping behind, causing the fire to leap around the kitchen. Within seconds, the kitchen will be a haze of flames and smoke, which will make it hard to see or escape. Heat rises, carrying heat and vapors into the upper levels of the house.

The more the fire spreads, the hotter the air inside the house becomes. At this point, it would be difficult to breathe without incurring serious lung damage, and parts of the house would be reaching the point of spontaneous combustion because of the heat. That's when you get a phenomenon called flashover, where abrupt and very rapid combustion effectively causes a room to explode with flames. Once one room catches fire, flames will quickly spread, and a home can be fully involved within minutes of the initial flames.

The second most common cause of house fires is heating equipment, which is why it's important to make sure yours is in good working order, so have an LA HVAC technician take a look at your system if it hasn't been checked in a while. Careless smoking, electrical equipment, and candles come next, followed by playful kids, out-of-date wiring, flammable liquids, Christmas trees, and barbecues. Tragically, many of these causes can be addressed before they cause a major house fire, and programs are even available in some cases to help people mitigate their fire risks (for example, Christmas light trade-ins let people get rid of older strands of lights in exchange for new LEDs).

A few simple measures can radically reduce the risk of fires in the home. Anything that produces heat or an open flame shouldn't be left unattended, and should be regularly serviced (if applicable -- obviously, your chimney needs to be swept, but candles don't require regular servicing!). Keeping your house clean and as free of dust and flammable chemicals as possible will limit fuel that a fire could use to spread, while installing fire extinguishers and fire detectors so you can act fast when the worst happens is strongly advised (and legally required, in some areas).

You should also have a fire plan in place. With only minutes to escape in an emergency, you need to know exactly how you're going to get out and where you're going to meet up with family members. Once you're free of the danger zone, you can communicate with first responders about who might still be inside and what to do next. It helps them to know where the fire started (if you know), and if you have information about the electrical wiring, plumbing, and floor plan, make it available so they can plan their strategy more effectively.

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The progression of a house fire

THE WOODLANDS, TX (KTRK) -- You know the saying, everything is bigger in Texas?

That's definitely true in The Woodlands, where we found one of the largest, most expensive homes in the Houston market.

The more than 33,000 square foot mansion is tucked deep in the heart of The Woodlands. The French Renaissance-inspired home also has an additional 7,000 square feet of patio space. The three stories soar above the four acres of surrounding property, but it's the interior that truly stands out.

Listing agent Arlene English says you will find 12 bedrooms, 18 bathrooms, 12 fireplaces, and nine kitchens (five full and four mini-kitchens).

Out of the eight unique bedroom suites, the master is the largest, taking up 3,000 square feet, the size of most homes. The master bedroom has his and her showers, his and her walk-in closets, a full sitting area with a fireplace, and a private salon.

The other seven suites are like staying in a luxury hotel.

A palatial office is filled with rich wood, crackling fireplaces, and plenty of bars.

The house is lit with 42 chandeliers along with 2,200 other lights, more than 100 doors, and three elevators.

The entire third floor is an entertainment complex, including a luxury theater, gentlemen's lounge, soda fountain, and a game room.

Outside you can find a spectacular pool with two spas and waterfall.

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Inside Houston's most expensive home for sale

SPOKANE VALLEY - A 21-year-old Coeur d'Alene man was arrested late Tuesday for allegedly operating an illegal marijuana operation at a Spokane Valley home in which 273 plants were recovered.

Cole Brown was booked into the Spokane County Jail for manufacturing a controlled substance. More arrests are pending.

Brown told police he had been staying off and on at the home on north Conklin Road and also living in Coeur d'Alene.

"Detectives hope to stem any trend from developing where Idaho marijuana growers set up illegal operations across the border in Washington to try and take advantage of more lenient state laws regarding the drug," a Spokane Valley Police press release states.

Detectives served a search warrant at the Spokane Valley home and discovered the rental house had been converted into an alleged illegal marijuana growing operation.

A male and female were staying part time in one of the bedrooms, and tending to the plants that were in various stages of maturity, the press release states. The home's wiring and ventilation had been altered to accommodate commercial grow equipment and there were signs of mold growth and other issues in the home associated with long-term indoor grow operations.

Neighbors in the area had become suspicious when they never saw the new renters, the press release states. All the windows were blacked out and vehicles parked mostly behind the house, hidden from view.

Detectives conducted surveillance and noticed that all the vehicles frequenting the residence had Idaho plates. Further investigation established probable cause for the search warrant.

Brown and an adult female, who was not arrested and also claimed to be living in Coeur d'Alene, both smelled of marijuana, but claimed no knowledge of a marijuana growing operation at the house, according to police. Neither claimed to use or grow marijuana for medicinal reasons.

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Cd'A man arrested during pot bust

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