Visitors credited with saving life

What started as an ordinary night for Lisa Vineyard a couple weeks ago turned into one of tragedy and heroism. Had it not been for a group of visitors to the area the results could have been fatal.

Vineyard had gone to bed in her Mineral Bluff home around 10 p.m. Sunday, December 8, as usual with her fan and music playing, she said.

Not long thereafter, she was awakened by a stranger alerting her that her house was on fire, and she needed to get out. That stranger was 16-year-old Micah Fox from Birmingham, Alabama.

“They were at the right place at the right time and got me out,” Vineyard said.

Fox was with three of his friends, Devon Johns, Arianna Tyler and Cody McAdams, all 20 years old, on vacation when they saw the home from the road.

On the way back to their rental cabin, Tyler noticed the lights and asked if it were a fire, she recalled. Johns, who was driving, said he initially believed it to be Christmas lights until they drove closer.

Without much more thought, Tyler called 911, and Johns pulled in at the residence.

Each boy confirmed the car and carport was fully in flames, and McAdams said without any hesitation from any of them, they all immediately hopped out.

Tyler stayed in the car, however, consoling McAdam’s younger sister who was worried about him running toward the flames, she said.

The boys each recollected that while Fox and Johns banged on the front of the house, McAdams ran around back to search for a water hose.

After repeatedly banging on the door, Fox and McAdams both said they had considered kicking it in. However, Johns tried the handle, and the door was unlocked.

Both Johns and Fox ran inside to alert Vineyard, but it was Fox who found her.

After Fox was able to lead her outside, he recalled the event saying, “She was in shock,” and kept insisting she go back in to get her shoes. Fox said he offered his own to her while trying to keep her back, but she insisted before making her way back inside.

Meanwhile, and after finding a water hose, Johns hosed down the fire best as he could, he recalled.

After a few minutes, McAdams said he was getting worried about Vineyard inside the house with the fire growing, so he urged Fox to get her since he had gained her trust.

Modestly, Fox said, “I was more of the emotional support.”

Upon re-entering the home, Fox remembered, “It was really hot.”

Johns recalled tires and other things exploding, and McAdams urged everyone to get away from the home after noticing a propane tank behind the house.

Not much later, the boys said Vineyard’s brother showed up and took over the hosing. Johns said, at this point, the water pressure was minimal. Her parents also showed up just before the fire department.

When asked if any of the boys have been in a similar situation before, they all agreed they hadn’t.

Johns said, “I just saw how big the fire already was” and knew he needed to make sure no one was inside.

Fox said he remembered drills from kindergarten but nothing to this extent, while McAdams credited their “instincts.”

“We would have done it for anyone,” McAdams said of the acts. He added that his “adrenaline was through the roof, and I kind of got emotional.”

Of themselves, Fox said the boys have all grown up together and are neighbors.

Vineyard, who works in the district attorney’s office in the Fannin County Courthouse, said she sees kids their age all the time and remarked about their integrity and courage.

Fannin County Fire Chief  Larry Thomas said it has been confirmed the fire started in the car. It then climbed into the attic and began spreading. “This kept the fire detectors from going off,” Thomas said. Vineyard had no warning her house was on fire as she slept.

Had the teenagers not gotten Vineyard out of the house, the fire could have burned through the attic, causing a collapse and trapping Vineyard inside with no way out.

Fire officials believe that, in all likelihood, the teenagers saved Vineyard’s life.

As for Vineyard’s home, it was not a total loss, and the fire department did confirm the fire to have started in the car, but the investigation is still ongoing.