FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 6/28/2010) (Memphis 6/28/2010) Still covered from head to toe in soot, Paula Childers says she wasn't strong enough to get her quadriplegic brother out of their home early Monday morning.
Childers was making coffee when her house started filling with smoke.
She says when she couldn't rescue her brother she ran to the neighbors for help, "I ran across the street beating on their doors."
"The room he was in was full of smoke and another guy tried to get him out of the house, but he couldn't get him out of the house," said Brian Taylor.
The fire started in a room connected to the carport of the home.
The flames were so intense, a van in the driveway also caught on fire and a tire exploded from the heat.
Childer's brother, 52-year-old Shane Ferguson, was sleeping in a front bedroom.
Firefighters were able to get him out, but he later died at MED from smoke inhalation and burns.
Neighbors say they wish someone could have gotten to him sooner.
"I hate to see this. It's a tragedy, a real tragedy," said Taylor.
Childer's husband, a former Memphis police officer, was killed in the line of duty several years ago.
Now, neighbors say she has lost everything.
She didn't have any renter's insurance or car insurance. They say they'll do whatever they can to help.
"We definitely want to set up fund to help her. All of the neighbors, everybody that is will to help we would greatly appreciate it. This lady was not financially at her best," said Kristie Dortch.
The Red Cross is now assisting Childers with temporary housing.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
- A quadriplegic man died in an early morning fire in the Grahamwood area
- Sister was not able to pull man out of house in time
- The cause of the fire is still under investigation
(Memphis 6/28/2010) (Memphis 6/28/2010) Still covered from head to toe in soot, Paula Childers says she wasn't strong enough to get her quadriplegic brother out of their home early Monday morning.
Childers was making coffee when her house started filling with smoke.
She says when she couldn't rescue her brother she ran to the neighbors for help, "I ran across the street beating on their doors."
"The room he was in was full of smoke and another guy tried to get him out of the house, but he couldn't get him out of the house," said Brian Taylor.
The fire started in a room connected to the carport of the home.
The flames were so intense, a van in the driveway also caught on fire and a tire exploded from the heat.
Childer's brother, 52-year-old Shane Ferguson, was sleeping in a front bedroom.
Firefighters were able to get him out, but he later died at MED from smoke inhalation and burns.
Neighbors say they wish someone could have gotten to him sooner.
"I hate to see this. It's a tragedy, a real tragedy," said Taylor.
Childer's husband, a former Memphis police officer, was killed in the line of duty several years ago.
Now, neighbors say she has lost everything.
She didn't have any renter's insurance or car insurance. They say they'll do whatever they can to help.
"We definitely want to set up fund to help her. All of the neighbors, everybody that is will to help we would greatly appreciate it. This lady was not financially at her best," said Kristie Dortch.
The Red Cross is now assisting Childers with temporary housing.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
