Neighbor says man killed, woman rescued in Washington County fire

WASHINGTON COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - A man died, while firefighters managed to save a woman after fire destroyed a home late last night in Washington County.

Authorities say firefighters were called around 11:30 p.m. to the home on Preachers Court which is a couple of miles south of Plymouth.

Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Lance Swindell says eight fire departments were called in to extinguish the house fire.

Rev. Avery Barnes lives next door to the home and heard noises after he had gone to bed. He said he got up and went outside to see his neighbor’s home on fire.

“We heard her hollering and screaming,” said Rev. Barnes. “So I went closer and saw her trying to get out of the window, a small bathroom window. And the firemen came out there running. They were panicking because there was someone in the house. And they put the ladder there and they helped get her down.”

He said the woman, whom he identified as June Jones, has since been released from the hospital.

The name of the dead man has not been released.

Washington County deputies and the State Fire Marshal are investigating the cause of the fire.

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