Neighbor saves woman, child from Norfolk house fire

NORFOLK

Marilyn Rigau was disoriented after smelling the smoke that began filling her apartment.

Her little girl, Andrea Nicole, just shy of 2 years old, ran around while Rigau tried to collect diapers and clothes.

Downstairs neighbor John Tharpe already was coming upstairs to help after he discovered fire in the garage of the multifamily house at 2430 Early St. on Tuesday morning.

He could tell that Rigau was panicked.

"Marilyn! Come on, let's get out of here!" he shouted.

When she didn't respond, he grabbed little Andrea and headed downstairs. Rigau followed. Tharpe put the baby in the SUV of a passer-by, where she slept soundly Tuesday afternoon while her mother waited next to her.

"I'm so glad that he was able to help me," Rigau said, coughing. "I was feeling a little disoriented."

Rigau said she noticed a problem when she saw white smoke coming through paneling. Her husband was at work at a shipyard. She opened a window and smelled smoke and saw "a line of fire coming up."

Tharpe was watching a DVD shortly before 11 a.m. when a smoke detector sounded.

He investigated and found fire in the garage of the two-story structure and smoke filling the house, then ran upstairs.

Combustibles near a baseboard heater started the fire, Battalion Chief Harry Worley said. The fire caused damage throughout the house. Firefighters opened holes in the roof and tore down siding to reach hot spots. Flames melted siding on the house next door.

The house is divided into units. Three other adults living there were not home at the time, the fire department said.

"I'm just glad everybody's safe," Tharpe said.

The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents with food, clothing and lodging.

Patrick Wilson, (757) 222-3893, patrick.wilson@pilotonline.com