Mom talks of desperate attempt to flee flames, loss of 2 children
HIDDEN KILLER
By Glenn Smith
Dawn Guthry dropped to the floor and crawled, nearly blind in the black smoke. Flames crackled around her. Searing heat filled her lungs.
The Post and Courier
Copies of photographs are all that Dawn Guthry has left of her children who died when the family's duplex burned in 2003.
Her children's screams had woken her just minutes before. Fire. Everywhere. They had to get out. Guthry's teenage daughter, Jessica, led the way. Her 8-year-old son, Corey, clutched Guthry's shirt from behind. A human chain, weaving its way through the burning home.
"You couldn't see. You couldn't breathe," Guthry said. "The floor was so hot."
The family had been asleep Sept. 16, 2003 when an electrical spark ignited a sectional sofa in their Greene County, Tenn., duplex. The sofa erupted in flames and, soon, fire raced through the two-story home.
Guthry and her family had no idea how quickly the sofa could burn. Nor did they know that a similar sofa, from the same company, had sparked an inferno three years earlier that killed a 24-year-old woman and three children in Kentucky.
Video
Fatal house fire
Dawn Guthry talks about the night her house caught fire, Sept. 16, 2003 in Green County, TN. Her 8-year-old son, Corey Wampler, died in the fire and her 14-year-old daughter Jessica Guthry died a few days later.
Guthry and her children had just moved into the duplex eight days before, and many of their belongings still sat in boxes. They'd spent the evening laughing, shooting hoops, sharing pizza and homemade ice cream. Now they were in a fight for their lives as flames chewed through the log-and-frame home and clouds of toxic smoke swirled through the air.
They started down the stairs, but an oxygen tank belonging to Guthry's stepfather exploded nearby, blocking their path. They turned back and tried to find the doorway to the bedroom again. Finally, they reached a window as the fire bore down on them.
Jessica, an eighth-grader, pushed her mother to safety and then tumbled from the burning home herself. Burns covered the 14-year-old's body, and her lungs were scorched from inhaling fire.
Dawn Guthry and the two children she lost in the Tennessee fire.
"I heard my daughter say 'Mom' and I turn around and she is just standing there holding her arms out, and the skin is just hanging off of her arms," Guthry said.
Guthry's mother, stepfather and ex-husband also made it out of the house. But not her little boy.
His father, Guthry's ex, donned a wet blanket and struggled to get back in to reach his son. But the current from a downed electrical wire kept shocking him, blocking his attempts. They kept calling to Corey.
"Corey never came," Guthry said, her voice trembling. "He never got out. He just laid down, according to the coroner."
Guthry was treated for burns on her hands and knees as emergency workers flew Jessica by helicopter to Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville.
Read more in our special report
"They had her scheduled for skin grafts," Guthry said. "They thought she was going to be okay."
The damage to Jessica's lungs proved too severe, depriving her of needed oxygen and leaving her with brain damage. She lingered for four days, with machines keeping her alive.
"We finally had to decide whether or not to keep her on the machines or just let her go," Guthry said. "We chose to let her go with her brother. They did everything together. She was always like a mother figure to him."
Related story
Scars remain a constant reminder of upholstered furniture's dangerpublished 6/8/09
Guthry, facing some $90,000 in medical bills, filed a lawsuit against the sofa's maker, alleging that it was defective and that the lack of fire-proofing created a deadly situation that left the family no means of escape without injury or death. The furniture company paid Guthry a confidential settlement before the suit could go to trial.
Nearly six years later, the pain remains fresh. She thinks of her children constantly.
"Every time I see a blond-headed child."
Reach Glenn Smith at gsmith@postandcourier.com or 937-5556.
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Printer-friendly versionComments
charlestt (anonymous) says...
What purpose does this serve? This is just a sad story with no value other than it's horror. P&C you are as common as pig tracks!
June 8, 2009 at 6:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eatmorecollards (anonymous) says...
I agree charlestt, if the P&C is out to expose the furniture industry. Lets cover all five W's.
June 8, 2009 at 7:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
taxedstupid (anonymous) says...
The answer ia sooo simple FIRE SPRINKLERS !!
June 8, 2009 at 8:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCGirl0901 (anonymous) says...
So I guess from now until the 18th we're going to have to read about furniture fires no matter where they happened??? There's two so far in today's paper.
Are you kidding me P&C??? This is such a ridiculous excuse for news. I hope the so-called 'journalists' read these comment sections and get a clue.
June 8, 2009 at 8:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
SCGirl, I was thinking the same thing. They are just clearing the way for the stories about the Charleston 9 on the 18th. It is a sad story, nonetheless and my heart goes out to everyone involved, but if this is one piece of a series on faulty furninture to pave the way to June 18th, P&C should rethink their position.
June 8, 2009 at 8:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Liberals_Are_Maroons (anonymous) says...
So I guess from now until the 18th we're going to have to read about furniture fires no matter where they happened???
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What is the significance of the 18th?
June 8, 2009 at 8:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCGirl0901 (anonymous) says...
June 18th, 2007 - the 9 firefighters died in the Sofa Superstore fire on Savannah Hwy. This newspaper will not let it go.
June 8, 2009 at 8:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BulldogTLC (anonymous) says...
That would be the anniversary of the day nine of Charleston's fire fighters died in a fire at a furniture store - doing a job they signed up for. P&C has been exploiting the story ever since....
June 8, 2009 at 8:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
craigdelk (anonymous) says...
Nice, back to back home fire stories. One involving a dipsh_t who was probably drunk or high and a lit candle fell and burned his mobile home down...oh yea, and it wasn't his fault so he got paid (BS). Now, another house fire in another state which has no bearing on Char., SC.
Way to go P&C. Keep bringing us the best news.
June 8, 2009 at 9:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BulldogTLC (anonymous) says...
Maybe P&C will run a story tomorrow about how wood is not fireproof.....
June 8, 2009 at 10:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SpongeMunkie (anonymous) says...
Sofas are evil. Its a well known fact that they have conspired to destroy the human race.
June 8, 2009 at 10:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BulldogTLC (anonymous) says...
Wednesday edition - gasoline in the tank in your car that is sitting in the garage every night - also not fireproof.
June 8, 2009 at 10:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCGirl0901 (anonymous) says...
Wow.. you guys are giving Mr. Smith way too much material to work with. Make him do his own work.. :)
June 8, 2009 at 10:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
beefsaver (anonymous) says...
I'm not against the idea of a home fire-safety campaign of stories in the P&C but could the editors perhaps take a wider-angle view of each of these incidents? Within the two stories we have today, we see:
1. Unprotected, open flame left burning
2. Faulty electrical devices (overloaded outlet? Who knows?)
3. Families without a fire plan
4. A chance to talk about cutting the main breaker in your house if there's a fire - a chance missed
I'm really sorry for all the suffering these folks endured... I'm not about to crap all over the victims because they've all been punished enough.
Just please, P&C... take the Sofa Super Center anniversary as a chance to educate people about fire safety. I know the couches' materials are mind-blowingly scary but there are better things to do than wring our hands and panic over them.
June 8, 2009 at 10:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Luna (anonymous) says...
You people are the most insensitive pile of pooh I think I have ever read. You are blaming a woman who just moved in to a place for an electrical fire.
Well, one thing I know for sure hell will be very hot and fiery for you guys!
June 8, 2009 at 12:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JonWithnal (anonymous) says...
Is Mr. Smith writing this entire paper? Will he get more regional newspaper awards? Stay tuned, folks for more 'As The Paper Spins Into Irrelevance'.
June 8, 2009 at 12:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
Luna, there was only one person that suggested this fire could have been the woman's fault. Everyone else is commenting on how the P&C is seemingly leading up the the Sofa Superstore fire.
June 8, 2009 at 1:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Luna (anonymous) says...
Must be getting both the stories mixed up....but darn it why do people need to be so ugly?
June 8, 2009 at 1:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
Lol! They are so similar. But, I agree about people being so mean, which is why I put in one of my comments that there are a lot of angry people commenting this morning.
June 8, 2009 at 1:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BulldogTLC (anonymous) says...
I think a lot of the anger that you are seeing is coming form people who are tired of seeing people not be responible for they're own actions. I don't know what caused the electrical spark that caused this fire, so I will not blame this woman at all. The other guy in the other story is a whole different story though. He was obviously neglegent. What gets under my skin is how the furniture manufacturers are being held responsible. They didn't start the fire. Yes, the couch may be made of flamable materials, BUT if that were the only thing in the house that was flamable, they would have just gotten off the couch. The fact is, houses are full of flamable materials, but yet P&C has decised to exploit the stories of these people's lives in order to further exploit the story of the Charleston 9. Lord knows the P&C has drained every drop of life out of that tragic story, and when they think they are running out of steam, they pull in stories about fires from Lord knows where. The simple fact is, the firemen died performing a job that they signed up for and while it is was tragic, it does not need to a wound that is never allowed to heal because the P&C drags it back out again and again. Let the families rest.... Let us all rest!
June 8, 2009 at 2:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CWL922 (anonymous) says...
How many of these sofas just ignite by themselves. There always seem to be something that sparks it. Go after that part of the equation.
June 8, 2009 at 2:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCGirl0901 (anonymous) says...
LUNA... there isn't one post (ok, maybe one) on this thread that is blaming the victims of the fire..
Good lord - if you will take half a minute to actually read the posts prior to commenting, you may save yourself some aggravation.
Almost every post is expressing how sick and tired they are about having to constantly relive the deaths of those firefighters two years ago. No matter how discreet the P&C tries to be about it - it's there. How stupid do they think people are.. Here we are 10 days away from the anniversary and there are two furniture fire stories..
Really??
June 8, 2009 at 2:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JohnS (anonymous) says...
The electrical meter can on the house looks to be over 50 years old. The circut could have been overloaded. Anything can go wrong with old wiring.
June 8, 2009 at 2:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
Posted by Luna on June 8, 2009 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Must be getting both the stories mixed up....but darn it why do people need to be so ugly?
************************************************************
Posted by SCGirl0901 on June 8, 2009 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LUNA... there isn't one post (ok, maybe one) on this thread that is blaming the victims of the fire..
Good lord - if you will take half a minute to actually read the posts prior to commenting, you may save yourself some aggravation.
************************************************************
Ahem, refer to the above partial repost from Luna and then refer to the above partial repost from...well...from you. Save yourself some aggravation indeed.
June 8, 2009 at 3:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
taxedstupid (anonymous) says...
Posted by BulldogTLC on June 8, 2009 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think a lot of the anger that you are seeing is coming form people who are tired of seeing people not be responible for they're own actions.
Exactly BulldogTLC
Personal responsibility is to provide you own protection for your own home, belongings, and most importantly your family.
The home that is protected by low cost highly effective residential fire sprinklers has chosen a much more dependable type of protection and best of all they are not dependant on the local government to fight THEIR fire in THEIR house to save THEIR family and THEIR stuff.
What ever happened to personal responsibility??
June 8, 2009 at 5:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tides (anonymous) says...
This happened in another state. I don't get it either, other than the Post and Courier attempting to build something up to the public that is relevent to the Super Sofa Fire - and possible jury trials in civil suits.
June 8, 2009 at 6:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCGirl0901 (anonymous) says...
Luna?? Huh?
June 8, 2009 at 10:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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