LITTLE ROCK — While still investigating the cause of the fire that killed a woman and her four children last week, the Jacksonville Fire Department’s lead investigator is also investigating the response from firefighters who were called to the house more than 90 minutes before the family’s bodies were found by maintenance men.
Although Fire Marshall Mike Williams could not be reached for comment, Jacksonville Fire Department Battalion Chief Eddie Hill said that Williams started the internal inquiry on Monday to determine exactly what firefighters did when they responded to Marilyn Beavers’ home at around 5:50 a.m. after a neighbor reported a strong smell of smoke.
“We are in the process ... interviewing everyone who was on that scene,” Hill said. “They’re still looking into the actions of the crew when they were there ... we’ll know in a couple of days.”
The review, according to Hill, was prompted by “questions” over the response to a Thursday fire that let off enough smoke and soot to kill Beavers, 30, and her children Dequan Singleton, 10; Sydni Singleton, 9; Haylee Singleton, 6; and Emily Beavers, 4.
Hill said that Jacksonville firefighters were already handling a “fully developed” residential fire at 3400 T.P. White Drive when they took the 5:50 a.m. call at a duplex in the Jacksonville Housing Authority at 3 S. Simmons Drive.
Jennifer Gray, 27, who lives in that duplex, said the smell of smoke inside her residence was so strong she “gagged” when she woke up to her alarm clock.
“I wondered what the heck is that, it was pretty strong,” Gray said Tuesday. “My house still smells like it.”
She called 911 and minutes later, the fire crew arrived and told her they saw no signs of a fire.
According to Gray, the fire crew attributed the smell of smoke to the fire at 3400 T.P. White Drive, roughly half a mile away.
“I asked them ‘Are you sure?,’” Gray said. “[The smell] should be as strong outside ... but there was nothing outside.”
Firefighters returned an hour and a half later, after maintenance workers with the housing authority who had been called by Gray found Beavers and her children dead in their beds. The workers had let themselves into the duplex after noticingsigns of fire.
“There are questions about [how it was handled],” Hill said. “We recognize that more than anyone.”
Hill said that it appeared that firefighters followed department protocol when they first reached the duplex earlier that morning.
They saw no signs of fire, used thermal imaging to check for signs of heat or “hot spots” in the house, and talked to the complainant, Gray, before they left, Hill said.
Hill said it was unclear whether firefighters tried to make contact with Beavers and that that would be cleared up by the internal review.
When asked if the ongoing investigation might lead to new policies or procedures, Hill said it was possible.
“That will definitely be looked at, to see if we need to change what we do on a response,” Hill said.
Funeral services are set for 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Luke’s Missionary Baptist Church near Jacksonville, according to family members.
The senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in downtown Little Rock, the Rev. Michael Mattox, said his congregation is taking donations to a “love fund” to help pay for the “severe” costs of the five funerals.
Arkansas, Pages 11 on 03/28/2012