Husband unable to save wife, dogs in Fayetteville fire

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Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Husband unable to save wife, 3 dogs in fire
The fire happened around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning

FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- A team of forensic experts spent more than 15 hours trying to figure out what caused a fatal fire at a Fayetteville home.

One woman as killed as well as 3 dogs. Officials are not releasing her identity until an autopsy is complete.

The fire happened around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 2500 block of McNeill Circle.

A neighbor called 911 saying a woman was trapped inside the fiery home.

The woman's husband wasn't able to reach his wife through the smoke.

When firefighters arrived, the husband was pacing in the front yard and yelling for help.

"We're dealing with him at the same time of trying to mitigate the fire situation. So it was a very stressful situation," said Fayetteville Fire Marshal Michael Martin.

The man lost his wife, as well as three family pets.

He won't be able to return to the home because the roof is compromised and there is extensive damage inside.

"It is pretty bad. We would deem the house a total loss," said Martin. "The fire was pretty hot and it had been burning a few minutes before we got the call."

The husband will staying with family as he tries to cope.

Fayetteville fire official talks about dealing with the husband's grief as well as the fire