WARNING: This video contains explicit language
NORFOLK — A woman’s Facebook video has gone viral after she activated the “live” feature from the scene of a fire in Norfolk in November.
Rhoda Young shot a Facebook live video from the scene of a house fire in the 500 block of Birmingham Avenue which has gained more than 277,000 views via the social media site and a Youtube channel.
Norfolk Fire Department Chief Harry Worley confirmed that a woman was shooting a video outside of the home while firefighters were responding to the call.
In the video, Young refers to herself as a “volunteer” reporter.
“The house fire is in full active duty right now,” she said on the video, before telling fire department officials to spray the house down with water.
She can be seen in front of the burning home attempting to interview NFD officials and a man who claimed to live in the home. About half way through the video, Young points out that the man she interviewed — who was sitting outside of the home drinking a beer — appeared to have burned hair and burns on his face.
Later, the same man can be seen in the video sitting on the front porch of another home and he appears to be in hand cuffs, according to Young.
The fire led to the arrest of 35-year-old Donald William Stricker III, who was charged with the burning of an occupied dwelling. He is currently being held at the city jail without bond.
Worley confirmed that the NFD was called to the scene around 3:18 p.m. Firefighters put the blaze out by 4:44 p.m., and no one was injured; however, a family of four were displaced.
A Southside Daily reporter has attempted to contact Young and will update the story with her comments as soon as possible.
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