9-year-old killed, 3 family members injured in Cumberland County mobile home fire

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- A fire at a Cumberland County mobile home killed one child and injured three others.

At about midnight, fire crews responded to a report of a house fire at the 2500 block of Dasher Lane in Fayetteville. When they arrived, they found a single-wide mobile home on fire.

There were four family members inside the home. Firefighters assisted in getting them out, but the youngest of the four did not survive.

A family member at the scene spoke to ABC11 and confirmed the child who died was 9 years old. The child has been identified as Thomas Miller.

"I was here when he was born and here when he was taken away," neighbor Wanda Freeland said through tears.

The child's mom and dad were sent to the burn center at UNC Hospital for treatment. The child's 16-year-old sister was sent to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

Investigators said there were no signs of foul play in the fire.

Cumberland County Fire Department determined the fire accidentally sparked from a space heater plugged into the wall.

Roscoe and Lee Strickland own the land where the Millers' mobile home is located.

"It's just a tragic thing that something like this would happen," Roscoe said.

"They were very, a very close, hard working family. You couldn't say anything negative about them. They loved their children...just typical, hardworking people just trying to make ends meet," Lee said. ""These guys were more than just tenants. They were part of our family as well. We've known them forever...it's a very dark day for us in our family."