Interesting that you state that there were no installed smoke detectors. Especially, since North Carolina Statute (NCGS Chapter 42, § 42-42) says that they ARE required in all rental units. The statute reads:
"Landlord to provide fit premises.
(a) The landlord shall:
(1) Comply with the current applicable building and
housing codes, whether enacted before or after October 1, 1977, to the extent required by the operation of such codes; no new requirement is imposed by this subdivision (a)(1) if a structure is exempt from a current building code.
(2) Make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition.
(3) Keep all common areas of the premises in safe
condition.
(4) Maintain in good and safe working order and promptly repair all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating,
ventilating, air conditioning, and other facilities and
appliances supplied or required to be supplied by the landlord provided that notification of needed repairs is made to the landlord in writing by the tenant, except in emergency situations.
(5) Provide operable smoke detectors, either battery-operated or electrical, having an Underwriters'
Laboratories, Inc., listing or other equivalent national testing laboratory approval, and install the smoke detectors in accordance with either the standards of the National Fire
Protection Association or the minimum protection designated in the manufacturer's instructions, which the landlord shall retain or provide as proof of compliance. The landlord shall replace or repair the smoke detectors within 15 days of receipt of notification if the landlord is notified of needed replacement or repairs in writing by the tenant. The landlord shall ensure that a smoke detector is operable and in good repair at the beginning of each tenancy. Unless the landlord and the tenant have a written agreement to the contrary, the landlord shall place new batteries in a battery-operated smoke detector at the beginning of a tenancy and the tenant shall replace the batteries as needed
during the tenancy. Failure of the tenant to replace the
batteries as needed shall not be considered as negligence on the part of the tenant or the landlord.
(b) The landlord is not released of his obligations under
any part of this section by the tenant's explicit or implicit acceptance of the landlord's failure to provide premises complying with this section, whether done before the lease was made, when it was made, or after it was made, unless a governmental subdivision imposes an impediment to repair for a specific period of time not to exceed six months. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, the landlord and tenant are not prohibited from making a subsequent written contract wherein the tenant agrees to perform specified work on the premises, provided that said contract is supported by adequate consideration other than the letting of the premises and is not made with the purpose or effect of evading the landlord's obligations under this Article. (1977, c. 770, s. 1; 1995, c. 111, s. 2; 1998-212, s. 17.16(i).)"
Further, the same statute shows, "§ 42-44. General remedies, penalties, and limitations.
(a) Any right or obligation declared by this Chapter is
enforceable by civil action, in addition to other remedies of law and in equity.
(a1) If a landlord fails to provide, install, replace, or
repair a smoke detector under the provisions of G.S. 42-42(a)(5) within 30 days of having received written notice from the tenant or any agent of State or local government of the landlord's failure to do so, the landlord shall be responsible for an infraction and shall be subject to a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for each violation. The landlord may temporarily disconnect a smoke detector in a dwelling unit or common area for construction or rehabilitation activities when such activities are likely to activate the smoke detector or make
it inactive."
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/statutes/statutes_in_html/chp0420.html
So, based on the above, and without knowing any further details or specifics of this case, it appears that the landlord was in violation of the NC statute. And I believe that a decent case could be made that this violation might be shown to have increased the amount of damages that you incurred, had there been sufficient notice by the alarm(s).
I must add that your statement that you "have reason to believe that the landlord was involved someway" has little benefit unless you can show that there was some accelerant used in the fire.
I would contact a local attorney to see if they might be interested in this civil case. And if you can't find one, I would at least suggest that you contact the DA to have charges brought for violation of the NC statute. Then the results of the DA's action could be used to support your civil claim.
