For a few tense minutes, it looked like the state crown would go to a team of fourth-graders from Mecklenburg County. But a couple of correct responses in the late stages pulled Woodland Heights Elementary even with Victory Christian School, sending the Fire and Life Safety Bowl title into a three-question tie-breaker.

Each team answered one question correctly, bringing the match down to the final question.

Woodland Heights buzzed in on the final question and got it right to bring the state Fire and Life Safety Quiz Bowl trophy home to Mooresville to be placed beside the county trophy the team won in March.

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A 20-year-old man died Sunday night after trying to rescue a dog inside his parents' burning house in Mooresville. The Lake Norman Volunteer Fire Department received a call at 4:21 p.m. about a house on fire on Wildiris Drive, west of Interstate 77 off Brawley School Road. The fire was out by 5:45 p.m., an Iredell Sheriff's dispatcher said Sunday night.

Neighbors say the 20-year-old was outside when he was asked if anyone was inside. He said only the dog and ran inside to rescue the animal.

Firefighters had to carry him outside. He was unconscious when an ambulance took him to Lake Norman Regional Hospital, neighbors said. Late Sunday, WCNC-TV, the Observer's news partner, reported that he had died. The dog died, too.

Update May 6, 2009

Cause of Fatal Mooresville Fire Undetermined

Fire officials said this morning they weren't able to determine what caused Sunday's fire on Wildiris Drive that killed Joshua Waynick, 20, when he went into his home to try to rescue the family's dog.

Waynick was outside the home when the fire started in the master bedroom, Iredell County Deputy Fire Marshall David Souther said. His parents were out of town at the time.

Autopsy results are pending at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, Souther said. The dog also died in the fire.

A 4-year-old Mooresville boy is fighting for his life after being injured by a lawn mower April 22. Preston Loyd was playing in the yard of his Corona Circle home when he was accidentally run over by a lawn mower operated by his grandfather.

Preston is the son of Mooresville residents Ashton and Cinamon Loyd, and a preschooler at Peninsula Baptist Church.

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today awarded $1,081,279 in Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) funding to local fire departments and emergency medical services organizations in the state of North Carolina.

Lake Norman Volunteer Fire Department received $61,750 for operations and safety.

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The Coast Guard Auxiliary will hold a safe boating class in Mooresville March 21 for girls only. Open to girls 14 and older, the class will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lake Norman Volunteer Fire Department on Brawley School Road.

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