After building destroyed, investigators begin daunting probe into how fatal QVC fire started

Firefighters were focusing on two specific areas as smoke continued to rise. Sky 5 footage showed the roof completely gone with support columns and pillars bent amid the ashes.

With parts of the fire still active, investigators are still working to get better access to the building to assess the damage and determine a cause. Capt. Jim Pearce, Chief Fire Investigator with Raleigh Fire Department said that brings quite a challenge.

“It can be quite a daunting task to undertake when you have a scene that is that big and that expansive,” Pearce said.

Pearce said the massive amount of damage could play a factor in determining a cause. Investigators will look at surveillance video that could provide leads.

“In my opinion, it’s extremely important to talk to everybody that was in the building at the time of the fire, because there could be that one person who saw something that may have been insignificant to them, but could be significant to the investigation," Pearce said.

A National Response Team (NRT) is expected to join the investigation on Tuesday. The NRT units are maintained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and investigate large fires, explosions and bombings.

The Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office said search and rescue members located a body on the outbound side of the loading dock at the distribution facility on Sunday morning. The body was identified as 21-year-old Kevon Ricks around 4 p.m.

"This is a very active and fresh investigation," said Edgecombe County manager Eric Evans during a press conference on Sunday afternoon. "[We're] not able to answer any questions at this point and time, but thank you for being here."

Family members told WRAL News that Ricks had just started working at QVC three weeks ago and was the father of a 1-year-old child.

Ricks' aunt, Stephanie Randolph, thanked people for their prayers and shared the news about her missing nephew.

"I really wish he would've made it out," said Randolph. "[It's] just a tragic turn of events."

Family members said they last heard from Ricks around 1:15 a.m. on Saturday.

People took to Facebook to show support for Ricks' family throughout the weekend.

Susan Newbold wrote the loss was "absolutely devastating ... especially right here at Christmas."

Randolph thanked firefighters for trying to save her nephew's life.

"Y'all did what you could ... couldn't move no faster than you did," she said.

"I wish things had definitely worked out differently," added a firefighter who responded to the QVC distribution facility.

For now, Ricks' family said they're focusing on taking care of one another.

"Only thing we're worried about is making sure his son is well taken care of, making sure his mom gets the proper help that she needs to deal with this and making sure all the family is good," said Randolph.

On Sunday, QVC said the company's "continued focus is on all our impacted team members and ensuring their well-being and safety in this difficult time." In a statement, QVC said it would be providing shutdown pay to all employees of the Rocky Mount distribution facility from Dec. 18 to Dec. 31, and the company was assessing the next steps for 2022.

QVC said, in addition, the company had set up an alternate site for distribution facility employees to meet in-person with team leaders for one-on-one support and created a team member information hotline with updates on the situation and the ability to leave questions.

"We are reminding team members about our Employee Assistance Program, which provides counseling and other health-related referrals. The program is available to all team members and can be called at any time," QVC said in a statement.

The cause of the fire would not be able to be determined until Monday, according to authorities. Fire officials said they had responded to the area recently multiple times for false alarms.

Around 1,200 people work at the facility on an average day. The Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce said that up to 2,500 families were impacted by the fire.

No other information was released on Ricks' death.

The Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce is accepting monetary donations for the QVC employees who are without a job as a result of the fire. Checks, made payable to The Community Development Foundation of Rocky Mount, can be mailed to Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce, 100 Coastline St. #200, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.

Rocky Mount, NC 27804