Deadly early-morning house fire in Richland County, officials say

A deadly house fire happened in Richland County early Wednesday morning, according to the Columbia Fire Department.

At about 3:40 a.m., firefighters responded to a burning building on Reese Road in Eastover, the fire department said. That’s near U.S. 378/Garners Ferry Road, about 2 miles from McEntire Joint National Guard Base.

The first units on the scene said it was a fully involved fire at the home.

A male who lived at the home was waiting outside and said he pulled another occupant out of the house, according to the fire department.

Richland County EMS was also on scene and provided care for the second occupant. The Richland County Coroner’s Office did have to be called, the fire department said.

The coroner’s office has not publicly identified the victim.

No other injuries were reported, fire department spokesman Mike DeSumma told The State.

The fire was brought under control and extinguished, the fire department said. Information about how long it took to put out the blaze was not available.

The home suffered significant damages, according to the fire department.

There was no word on where the blaze originated, but the Richland County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire, the fire department said. There was no word if foul play is suspected.

This is at least the second deadly fire in Richland County in the past eight days.

On March 21, a 95-year-old man died after a fire in a home on Wilkes Road in Columbia, according to the fire department.

One person was hurt in a separate fire at a Massey Circle home Monday night, the fire department said. Further information on that person’s condition was not available.