Cumberland woman hurt trying to pull son from burning home

Three adults and three children, who range in age from 2 to 16, were inside the Selma Drive home Sunday morning when the fire started.

Authorities said Shericka Creighton managed to escape but then suffered cuts and minor burns when she went back inside the burning house to save her son, Tavares Hollingsworth. She and other family members weren't able to get him out before firefighters arrived.

"Family members were here (acting) frantically, of course, and we were having to keep them from trying to get back in windows," said Tracy Smith, deputy chief of Pearce's Mill Fire Department. "We had two firefighters gain entry into two bedroom windows, and fortunately enough, we were able to find the young man."

Tavares suffered burns to the lower part of his body and was taken to the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center, at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill.

Irene Giddens, who lives across the street, said she broke down when she saw flames and smoke shooting through the roof and out the windows of the home.

"Anytime something happens like that, it’s bad, but around the holidays, it’s tough," Giddens said.

Investigators haven't yet determined the cause of the fire, which Smith said might have started in the living room.

Family members told firefighters there were smoke detectors in the house, but investigators said Monday they hadn't located any.