On Nov. 23, approximately 20 Monroe firefighters responded to an apartment fire in the 1400 block of Fairley Avenue. Crews were met with heavy smoke and fire coming out of the middle apartment of the three-unit building. Firefighters received reports that there may have been occupants trapped in two of the three units.
Captain Keith Starnes and his crew made entry into apartment B with a thermal imaging camera to search through the smoke and quickly located one unconscious but breathing adult female victim on the floor, now identified as Anita Plater. Firefighters reported the fire was spreading from its room of origin and was beginning to roll across the ceiling above them as they were rescuing Plater. She was transported to Atrium Main in Charlotte with serious injuries and treated for smoke inhalation.
On Dec. 1, Plater and her aunt visited Fire Station 1 to meet three of her four rescuers: Captain Keith Starnes, Firefighter Josh Hawk and Firefighter Chad Aldridge. The fourth firefighter, Captain Charlie Porter, was off duty.
Plater said all she could remember from that night was trying to find a way out of the apartment.
"Oh Lord, I’m going to die in a fire! I’m going to die," she said.
Plater was overcome with emotion expressing her heartfelt gratitude as she came face to face with her rescuers for the first time since the incident.
"I love y’all so much! I am so grateful! [Y'all are] the only reason why I stand in front of y’all right now, and if there’s anything I can do please let me know. God Bless y’all," Plater said.
Captain Keith Starnes said a situation like this is what the brave men and women of the Monroe Fire Department train for every day. He said the opportunity to meet someone they rescued is a once-in-a-career experience that many firefighters never have.
"I’m just glad that we were there and to get to meet the person we helped is always a benefit," Starnes said.
Firefighter Josh Hawk was right behind Capt. Starnes during the rescue. He and another firefighter dragged Plater 15 to 20 feet to safety as heavy smoke and flames billowed out of the apartment. He said all he could think about was getting Plater out of that environment. Immediately after the rescue, he and the other brave firefighters went to work knocking down the flames.
"That’s what we’re here to do. We are here for them. Getting to see [Plater] here was absolutely wonderful. Firefighters don’t get to do that very often," Hawk said.
Monroe Fire Chief Ron Fowler said time was critical in this incident and the quick actions by firefighters involved and God’s grace saved Plater's life.
"This was a team effort by all B-Shift Firefighters involved, and I commend each of them for their actions," Fowler said.
Chief Fowler said those involved in the rescue will be formally and appropriately recognized at a later time.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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