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Neighbors Credited With Saving Family

Cleveland County

SHELBY - Neighbors pulled seven people out of a burning mobile home late Sunday night.

A Cleveland County fire marshal said four children, their father and two grandparents were in the home on Nixon Drive off Highway 18, just south of Shelby, when it caught fire at about 10 p.m. Most of them were asleep.

Neighbors noticed the flames, rushed into the home and rescued the family.

Four family members had to be taken to a local hospital. Lucille “Georgia” Camp and her grandson, Jeffrey Camp, had to be flown to Baptist Hospital in Winson-Salem. They are in critical condition. Claude and Ronnie Camp were treated and released from Cleveland Regional Medical Center.

Firefighters credited neighbors for the rescue. They said they had a delayed response getting to the home because of the rough condition of the road.

Family members also said their neighbors are heroes.

“My brother got to hollering for help, and some of the neighbors, somebody came and helped, and I’d just like to thank everybody who helped get them out safe. There are still angels in this world, and they’re still there and God puts them there,” said Connie Wilson.

Neighbor Shawn James, who lives across the street, said it was the man’s cries for help that caused him to spring into action.

“I heard the guy hollering for help, so I just called 911 and crossed over immediately to start getting them out,” he said.

James was overwhelmed by the flames, so he ran to another neighbor’s home to get more help. Together, three men pulled all the family members from the fire.

“(There was) just a whole bunch of adrenaline rushing through me. I really wasn’t thinking about it. Just thinking about getting those people out of there,” said neighbor Scott Shepherd. “It’s a scary thing, but at the moment you’re not really scared.”

A power line fell and burned Shepherd, 17, as he executed a rescue.

“We pulled the woman out and the wires started sparking. This is what it did to me, right here,” he said, showing a burn on his shoulder.

James said he was just doing what was right.

“I’d want somebody to help me if my little girls were in there. (It was) just to help somebody out, you know,” he said.

Family members spent Monday going through the charred remains of the home, trying to salvage anything they can. They said they’re extremely grateful the neighbors stepped in.

“It’s rough, I tell you. This family’s been through devastation,” said Donnie Camp through tears. “I thank them all, all of them.”

Fire investigators said the fire does not appear suspicious.

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Source: WSOC

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Posted on Mon Jan 12 2009 at 16:41

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