B_Rock's Blog

We now know that everyone did not escape. Tragically, a 5 year-old boy was killed. There were also some injuries, the extents of which are still not known at this time. To clarify, the fire was at the Gardens Apartments which is right across the street from the Willow Creek Apartments. I believe they are both owned by the same company however.
There is much about this story that I have questions about, but for now, my sympathies are with the family. This is obviously the worst tragedy a parent can ever experience and especially with the holidays around, that just makes it that much worse. I'll add more about some of the circumstances that I am concerned about later, but right now is not the time to point fingers or lay blame.

This is so sad and tragic, regardless of the circumstances, blame, etc. Here is what me and my co-workers are wondering about: What is it about the Christmas lights that was "defective?" Has anyone heard? How do you know if your lights are defective or not?

A Burlington man injured in the fire that killed his son remained in critical condition Wednesday. (12-26-07)
Moses Shoffner, 29, escaped the fire that gutted his family’s second-story apartment at Garden Apartments on South Mebane Street on Dec. 18. He is still listed in critical condition at the Jaycees Burn Center in Chapel Hill, said a spokesman for UNC Hospitals.
Doctors induced a coma to relieve Shoffner’s pain shortly after he was admitted to the hospital, said Ramona Allen, who has helped minister to the Shoffner family since the fire. On Saturday, they performed a tracheotomy and skin graft surgery is planned for Thursday, she said.
Though Shoffner was able to escape the burning apartment with serious injuries, he wasn’t able to rescue his 5-year-old son, Jaeden. Firefighters responding to the call found the child and immediately took him to Alamance Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The family is still reeling from the loss.
Jaeden’s funeral was held Wednesday afternoon, and the family’s Christmas Day was spent in viewing and visitation with friends at the funeral home.
Sherrie Shoffner, Moses Shoffner’s wife and Jaeden’s mother, is only beginning to comprehend the loss of her son.
“She’s emotional right now,” Allen said. “She’s just trying to get through it. She’s hanging in there the best she can.”
The community’s prayers, and the support of her family, are helping.
“Their strength has come from all the prayers. People have been calling, trying to find out what they can do to help,” Allen said.
Moses Shoffner works nights