‘A miracle’: Newburgh man pulled from burning home
3/4/09 | 10 comments
Fire

‘A miracle’: Newburgh man pulled from burning home


By Dawn Gagnon
BDN Staff
BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY GABOR DEGRE
Firefighters work on extinguishing a house fire in Newburgh Wednesday evening. Buy Photo

NEWBURGH, Maine — An 81-year-old Newburgh man is lucky to be alive after the rambling white farmhouse he was born in caught fire Wednesday night and burned nearly to the ground.

Thanks to some passers-by and family members, Norris Nealley made it out of his burning house safely. While the fire still raged, Nealley was surrounded by family and resting comfortably at the home of his nephew, David Getchell, who lives next door.

“It was a miracle that he got out alive,” said Nealley’s sister, Joyce Clark.

According to Getchell and Clark, Getchell’s former wife, Karen, and friend Pat Rideout saw smoke coming from the two-story house while driving to Getchell’s to do laundry. They stopped to investigate and wound up pulling Nealley out of the home.

Nealley, whose eyesight is failing, was disoriented by the smoke and likely would not have made it out on his own, according to Clark. Ambulance personnel checked Nealley out at Getchell’s home and determined that he did not need a trip to the hospital.

“It really was a miracle. I hear about these on TV, how people are saved by a chain of events, but I’ve never seen it myself,” said Getchell, who placed the 911 call after seeing the smoke from the burning house and lights flickering on and off.

Despite the efforts of firefighters from Newburgh, Dixmont and Hampden, the Nealley house, located at 10 Croxley Road, just off Kennebec Road and directly across from Rigby Cemetery, could not be saved.

Newburgh Fire Chief Gary Sibley, who was first to arrive at the scene at about 7:30 p.m., said that the fire already had started to spread through the house, compromising its structural integrity and making it unsafe for fire crews to enter.

He said the fire appeared to have started in the chimney and spread up the walls to the attic and roof. The fire flared up several times during the night and firefighters were still at the scene at late Wednesday.

Getchell said Wednesday night that the house was not insured.

“Old-timers do no believe in insurance. They believe it is a waste of money,” he said. “But we do have lots of land and lots of family and that’s what counts.”

Among the items lost in the fire, he said, were several antique guns and coins.

According to Clark and Getchell, Nealley’s house, which was heated by a wood stove, was at least 120 years old and was one of the oldest houses in town.

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10 comments on this item
On 3/4/09 at 11:53 PM, Kevin_of_Bangor wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

“It was a miracle that he got out alive,” said Nealley’s sister, Joyce Clark.

No, it was not. The article states this: They stopped to investigate and wound up pulling Nealley out of the home.

No miracle. People stopped to investigate and pulled him out.

This statement just makes me shake my head: “Old-timers do no believe in insurance. They believe it is a waste of money,” he said.

A lot of old(er) people have insurance and just as many young(er) people don't carry it as well. To make that statement is just dumb. Maybe he could not have afforded the insurance so he chooses to go without it. A lot of people of all ages don't carry insurance because they cannot afford it.

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On 3/5/09 at 12:48 AM, RedGateFarm wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Oh my gosh Mr. Nealley! I am so glad you are safe and your family is looking out for you. If there is anything I can do, anything you need, please let me know.

--Kathy of Newburgh

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On 3/5/09 at 6:49 AM, PabMainer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Chain of events, happen-stance (? sp), miracle, whatever you want to call it thankfully this gentleman is alive and well...great job folks...

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On 3/5/09 at 8:30 AM, Hampden1 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I'm glad to hear he made out alive. No Insurance-not good!

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On 3/5/09 at 8:50 AM, kal778 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Kevin, sounds like you got up on the wrong side of the bed!

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On 3/5/09 at 11:31 AM, boogyman wrote: Click here to view hidden comment         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
On 3/5/09 at 2:16 PM, Hampden1 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Absolutely Correct boogyman - It may not even be that much if you have other insurances. Usually you insurance company will bundle the policies together creating a pretty good discount for you. I can't imagine not having my property insured "That's my Nest Egg"

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On 3/5/09 at 8:23 PM, Kevin_of_Bangor wrote: Click here to view hidden comment         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
On 3/6/09 at 9:01 AM, ataloss wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

as a "former" licensed insurance agent for numerous companies, i can tell you, he would have been hard pressed to find any company to insure that house. also, once you have let your coverage lapse for ANY amount of time, you are screwed. NO ONE will insure you unless you got to a non standard market in which case he'd be looking at a couple grand a year. then they would force him to rewire and update all plumbing and electric if it hadnt been in the last 20 years. so it doesn't surprise me he didn't have insurance. also kevin of bangor, i don't see anything wrong with questioning the BDN's wording or reporting skills but you these comments were made by the family and you have flat out called them dumb? why be so rude without even knowing who they are or better yet, who cares who they are and who cares if you think what they said was dumb, why point it out when it clearly doesn't affect your day?

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On 3/6/09 at 10:35 AM, Hunter334 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The man has lived 81 years of his life.. He was saved by good neighbors miracle it may be. The sad part is no insurance. memories are lost keep sake items are gone. I'm sure he owned the house and had it paid for without govmnt help..........By the sweat of his generation the nation was built... to be destroyed by the greed of this one...I hope that the someday when neighbors help build barns and houses together instead of fences and negativity.. Im sure the relatives will help rebuild his home with benefit suppers and good will so his remaining years are in comfort not neglect...When he passes another chapter in american history will be closed. God bless him and I hope everyone reads this feels the same way if not shame shame shame on you for even calling yourself a MAINER.

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