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Heartbreaking new details on Graniteville fire that killed 2 people

Heartbreaking new details on Graniteville fire that killed 2 people

GRANITEVILLE, SC (WRDW/WAGT) – We’ve learned more about a house fire that killed two people in Graniteville last week.

Graniteville-Vaucluse-Warrenville crews say they received the call at 11:49 pm in the 100 block of Taylor Pond Road last Sunday.

Crews said when they arrived on scene, the structure was already burning and had collapsed on top of most of the home. The car in front of the home also caught fire, along with the privacy fence next to the home.

Once the fire was knocked down, crews began to cool the area so they could continue to search the home.

During searches of the front of the home, the two victims were found in the area of ​​the front door, according to officials.

The Aiken County Fire Marshal’s Office and Sheriff’s Office have been notified for an investigator to respond. EMS and a sheriff’s deputy notified the coroner’s office to respond.

Damage in Halifax North after Hurricane Helene.

Once the fire was extinguished and the area cooled, the medical examiner removed the victims. officials say.

Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables says two people were pronounced dead at the scene at 1:08 a.m.

Autopsies have been scheduled to determine the cause and manner of death, and their names will not be released until identification is made and next of kin are notified, Ables said.

On the same day, a fire at home Etterle Road killed Carole and Henry Logan, both in their 80s, in a tragic crash that left one survivor.

Augusta Fire Department officials said they received an alarm for a reported structure fire in the 4400 block of Etterle Road at 12:38 a.m.

During the rescue attempt, the home became unsafe to enter and crews exited the home, at which point the home caught fire.

The survivor said they heated the home by burning wood in the fireplace and using propane tanks to power “buddy heaters,” according to officials.

According to the report, the fire spread beyond the house.

A firefighter suffered minor burns in the blaze and was taken to Wellstar ER for treatment, officials initially reported. I reached out for an update on the firefighter.

The Red Cross has been notified, officials said.

The deer are in Missouri

ELSEWHERE

Non-fatal fires: Damaged buildings in Georgia, SC set on fire

  1. A Augusta firefighter suffered minor injuries while struggling with fully engulfed man house fire near Peach Orchard RoadI found out on Friday.
  2. On A fire engulfed a home on Highway 220 East in Lincoln County early Monday morning. Martin’s Crossroads Fire Chief Vinny Vizari said no other buildings were threatened by the fire, which was reported at 5 a.m. The cause is undetermined.
  3. A the house was seriously damaged in one fire on Bayne Street in Orangeburg saturday morning It took fire crews several hours to bring it under control, but no one was injured.
  4. In georgia, The first Pentecostal church in Buford was destroyed by fire on thanksgiving day. “There’s a lot of sadness, but there’s no fear in what’s to come,” Pastor Jordan Copeland said. “God will take care of our church.”

A dangerous time of year

This time of year, we see a lot of home fires. So many that it has consistently earned Augusta a top spot in the country for most home fires.

The American Red Cross says home heating is one of the leading causes of home fires and injuries in the country.

According to FEMA, one in seven home fires will involve some kind of heating equipment.

“A lot of it has to do with heating the home. According to the National Fire Protection Association, it is the second leading cause of residential fires in the country,” said North Augusta Public Safety Sergeant Daniel Smith.

Some of our local fire departments say the number of fires they respond to increases between December and February.

“Usually when the first cold snap hits, people just start turning on the heaters and start finding issues or problems,” said Danny Kuhlmann, Columbia County Fire chief of operations and rescue.

As it gets colder, many people try to keep warm using alternative sources.

“The popular resort is the heaters,” Smith said. “There is a safe way to use your space heater and that is to leave it on a flat surface, plug it directly into a grounded outlet without using extension cords, and keep it at least ten feet away from any kind of combustible.”

Accident on I-20 eastbound ramp at Riverwatch Parkway on December 10, 2024.

However, it’s not just heaters that can be dangerous.

“Before you use your fireplace, make sure you inspect it,” Smith said. “Make sure the chimney is clear, with nothing blocking it, because you’ll be sending embers up the chimney. Chimney fires are very common.”

With Christmas right around the corner, officials are also asking you to stay safe during the holidays.

“Light decorations. Make sure there’s no catchphrase in the threads,” Smith said. “Make sure if you have a live tree, it stays watered. Christmas trees, when they dry out, burn extremely quickly, and when you wrap lights around it, if there’s an electrical short in those lights, it will catch fire in no time.”

Officials say the risk of being a victim of a fire is greatest when you are sleeping.

“We’ve had several fire deaths in the CSRA in the last week or so,” Kuhlmann said. “Smoke detectors are the cheapest insurance policy you can buy.”

Firefighters I’ve talked to recommend that you inspect your chimney once a year to make sure there’s no debris building up there, as it can catch fire.

If you need smoke detectors, the American Red Cross will install them for free. You can call 1-800-red cross.

If you plan to use a heater, keep these tips in mind:

  • Buy a model that stops if the radiator falls.
  • Do not use an extension cord with your heater.
  • Keep the heater away from flammable substances such as paper, bedding, curtains and carpets.
  • Keep children and pets away from radiators.
  • Never leave the heater unattended.

A fire should never be left burning unattended, and all furnaces, chimneys and stoves should be inspected annually, especially in older homes that may have more wear and tear.

Similarly, be sure to check or replace the batteries in your detectors. of smoke and carbon monoxide.

Here are some safe ways to make sure your home stays warm:

  • Avoid opening doors or windows.
  • Close the rooms you are not using.
  • Stuff towels or rags into the cracks of the door.
  • Cover your windows with curtains or blankets overnight.

Just because furnaces are hot doesn’t mean they should be used to heat the house. Leaving the oven on gas for an extended period of time can cause a build-up of carbon monoxide, which can be fatal. Even electric ovens can overheat or malfunction and use a lot of electricity, driving up bills.

To learn more about home heating safety, click Here or Here.