Mansion Owners Speak Out For First Time Since Devastating Fire

EDGECOMBE COUNTY,  N.C. (WNCT) – Tonight the owners of a historic mansion that was destroyed in a massive fire – are speaking out.

It happened early Monday morning. 12 people were staying at what is known as the Arthur Fountain House on Highway 33 near the town of Leggett.

The Fryars and their extended family went to bed around 1AM Monday after a long night of Christmas festivities. But they didn’t sleep for long. Less than two hours later their house was engulfed in flames. The Fryars say if it wasn’t for their niece, Chelsea, they might not have all made it out alive.

Six months ago David Fryar decided it was time to change the battery in the second floor smoke detector of his home. Now looking back, it’s a decision that was well worthwhile.

"At 2:30 the alarm went off, the smoke alarm, and Chelsea and I heard it and jumped up the fastest. And she ran to the three bedrooms on the second floor, knocking on the doors screaming fire,” said his wife, Deborah.

"It was terrifying in that moment because we didn't know if the rest of the house was like that or it was just the staircase, “ said his niece, Chelsea Carroway.

Deborah and Chelsea were the only two people who heard the alarm. If it wasn’t for Chelsea’s quick thinking, her 7-year-old cousin might not have made it out of the third floor den where he was sleeping.

"Its a yearly tradition for all of us to get together so Chelsea knew exactly where everything was and where the kids normally sleep,” said David Fryar.

"She kept a clear head and she dove right into that bedroom where as I started to breathe in the hot smoke and started to pass out,” said Deborah Fryar.

“There was no processing of like ‘oh this could be harmful’ it was just kind of like ‘hurry’. Those seconds ended up being what counted because no one could have gone up any later than we di,” said Carroway.

Amazingly, all 12 people got out of the house. But it took awhile for everyone to realize it.

"My sister, we couldn't convince her that Chelsea was okay. We couldn't convince her that she was out. That's why she was burned and my son burned. They were looking for her on the second floor and I was screaming on the staircase. 'They're out! They're ok!,” said Deborah.

Three people in the house suffered burns – mostly on their feet. Two needed to have skin grafts but the family says they are doing well and everyone is expected to make a full recovery.

Despite losing everything, they say they’re just thankful to be alive.

"We all got out and we sat out here in the front yard and praised god,” said Deborah.

As for Chelsea’s heroic actions, she isn’t taking any of the credit.

"It was obviously a god thing. I mean to have that short of a time frame you can't really say it was anything you did"

Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire but the family says it was likely electrical. They said they noticed the lights in the house flickering the day before.