1 dead, 3 hospitalized when fire rips through northeast Charlotte home, firefighters say

CHARLOTTE — Flames tore through a northeast Charlotte home Monday night trapping and killing a military veteran, who was in a wheelchair due to Parkinson’s disease.

A Charlotte Fire Department spokesperson told Channel 9 that eight people were inside the house, including three adults and five children.

The seven others survived the fire that started at about 11 p.m. on Eastbrook Drive, but three were taken to a hospital.

Neighbor Terryon McEachin took video of flames shooting from the roof of the two-story home as emergency personnel responded to the scene.

“We noticed that an older lady and all the kids, the family, were stumbling out of the house and it was just terrible,” McEachin said.

Investigators and first responders worked through the night until 4:15 a.m. Tuesday.

Cedric Anthony said that his eldest brother, former U.S. Marine Todd Anthony, could not escape the inferno.

“He died at the top of those stairs,” Anthony said.

Anthony’s mother and the children whom she adopted and fostered made it to safety.

Family members are honoring Anthony’s life.

“He was a good human being,” Anthony said. “He had good character.”

Another neighbor told Kustura she stepped outside and couldn’t believe what she saw.

“I was there when the house was engulfed in flames, it seemed like the entire left side of the house,” Molly Heffler said.

Charlotte Fire said the Red Cross is helping the surviving family members with a place to stay.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help Todd Anthony’s family.

Firefighters didn’t have any information yet about how the fire started.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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