The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN was saved by neighbours who forced their way into her burning home off East Street South yesterday after an explosion tore through the interior, leaving her with upper body burns.

Firefighters were called to a structural fire on Porgy Way shortly after 9.30am and found Christine Lightbourne outside the single-storey residence. She was taken to hospital, where relatives later said she was in stable condition.

Her daughter and grandson, who also live at the home, were not there at the time.

The cause of the explosion was not immediately known. Family members said Ms Lightbourne had just blown out a candle and was preparing for church when she heard a blast.

From the outside the house appeared mostly intact. Inside, soot stained the ceiling and broken sheetrock covered the floor.

Neighbour Robert Bethell said he had stayed home from church and went outside to feed his dogs when he noticed smoke and heard cries for help.

“My mind just told me to stay home,” he said.

He said he began wetting his roof and shut off the gas tank as passing motorists stopped to help. They struggled to enter because of the locks.

“I was afraid. I said boy this whole area could be imploding and she was in there hollering and we couldn’t get the doors open because of the deadlocks,” he said.

They eventually forced their way inside and carried Ms Lightbourne out.

“It looked like her upper body was burnt. Her face was black and like her shoulders and stuff, she had some burns,” he added.

Her sister Denise Mackey said she received a call from Ms Lightbourne and her pastor about the explosion and rushed to the scene after the ambulance left.

“I’m so grateful to Mr Roberts for his assistance,” Ms Mackey.

Ms Lightbourne’s daughter, Crystal Ingraham, later said she had visited her mother in hospital and described her as in the “best spirits” possible despite significant burns.