Man loses home, job to fires in same day

STANLEY, N.C. — A man suffered two major losses to fire on the same day when fires destroyed his home and his workplace Sunday.

An electrical fire tore through half of Roger Martin's home while he and his family were out of town. The family received a call from the Lincoln County Fire Marshal and came back to survey the damage.

"I know it's in the $25,000 range," said Martin. "It was more than what we really anticipated."

As if Martin's day could get any worse, in just a matter of hours the business he worked for went up in flames.

Martin ran deliveries for Universal Rubber Products in Denver. The building was gutted by a fire Sunday afternoon. Martin says it will take months for the company to get operational.

"Not having a job and not having a place to live at the same time is pretty devastating," said Martin. "As far as me working, it's not going to be anytime soon."

The Martins are now living in a camper while they try to clear out their burned-out home.

The only glimmer of optimism in Martin's story is his daughter was not at home during the fire.

"The ceiling fell on top of her bed. It really scares me because if she would have come home I don't know if we would still have her or not," said Darlene Martin, Roger's wife.