FOOD LEFT ON STOVE CAUSE
OF THURSDAY NIGHT FIRE
Victim identified; in critical condition

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- Fire investigators have said Friday a Thursday night fire that sent a female to the burn center in Winston-Salem was caused by food left on the stove.

Bessie Charles Friday, 53, was pulled from the residence seconds after firefighters arrived at the house in the 800 block of McBee Street near North Flint Street.

Friday, according to medic, was clinically dead with no pulse or heartbeat. Medics revived her at the scene and took her to Carolinas Medical Center Lincoln, where she was then airlifted to Baptist's Burn Center.

As of Saturday, Friday was listed in critical condition.

The residence sustained $45,000 in damage.

Originally, The Carolina Scoop was told the homeowner's name was Marlene Anderson; however, according to the Lincolnton Police Department report of official record, the homeowner's name was listed as Marlena Phelps.

State fire investigators were called in to investigate the fire according to the police report.

Lt. Dwite Shehan was first on the scene and tried to make entry through the back of the house.

"There was too much smoke and heat," said Shehan. "I couldn't get inside."

Phelps was able to get out the front of the residence and told dispatchers her friend was inside. Friday lived at a residence on High Street and was visiting Phelps at the time of the fire.