AVERY COUNTY, N.C. — Fire investigators in Avery County are trying to determine what started a fire that destroyed a home near Beech Mountain Monday morning.
Firefighters responded to the home around 9 a.m., and Channel 9 learned that the owner of the house is disabled and escaped using his wheelchair.
Nobody was hurt in the fire, which partially collapsed the roof of the home, and officials have not said how it ignited.
Homeowner Jerry McGuire said he was in another room when he spotted the flames coming from his bedroom. He worked quickly to get into a wheelchair and to his pickup truck, where he blew his horn to alert others.
He has been disabled for much of his life after getting polio as a child.
"If I had been in bed I wouldn't be here right now. I could see flames down the hall, so I got up in my wheelchair and got out," McGuire said.
Firefighters faced challenges on the steep driveway -- one tanker had difficulty pumping the water up the hillside to the home.
"Beautiful area of the country; can't beat it, but when you do have fires in here, it creates problems for us," said Fire Marshal David Vance.
Fire investigators believe an electrical malfunction in the bedroom started the accidental fire.
Volunteers scrambled to salvage what they could from the home, including a painting of McGuire's church. His family is thankful for those efforts.
"I just thank God for the volunteers, and I ask for prayers for Jerry because he needs them," said sister-in-law Meta McGuire.
The Red Cross has been called in to help McGuire with clothing after escaping with only what he was wearing.
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