Tragic new details on house fire that killed two 80-year-olds

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - We’ve learned more about a home fire that killed two people in Augusta last week.

A report from firefighters revealed the details Wednesday.

Augusta Fire Department officials said they received an alarm for a reported structure fire with entrapment in the 4400 block of Etterle Road on Dec. 1 at 12:38 a.m.

When fire crews arrived, they said they completed a 360-degree walk with a report of heavy fire visible with approximately 75% involvement of the home.

Crews say they found a victim in the bedroom and attempted to rescue him from the bedroom window.

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

A personnel ability report was performed with all personnel ed for and the fire suppression operation changed to a defensive mode.

Everyone was instructed to exit the home and additional units arrived.

When additional units arrived on the scene, the bulk of the fire was contained. Crews re-entered the scene and found two victims inside and both were deceased.

The victims, Carole and Henry Logan, both 80, were pronounced dead at 2 a.m., according to Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen.

Crews spoke with the occupant who was able to escape he said he woke and saw a large amount of fire and smoke and that he could not see through the smoke to assist the victims.

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

Jefferson Energy arrived on the scene and discontinued the power to the home, authorities say there was no gas service to the home.

The fire started in the living room and the cause was unintentional, fire investigators said.

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

Fire investigators found there was no automatic extinguishing system and no fire detectors present.

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

The Red Cross was notified, officials said.

Later that day in Graniteville, a fatal fire was reported at 11:49 p.m. in the 100 block of Taylor Pond Road.

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

Autopsies have been scheduled to determine the cause and manner of death, and their names won’t be released until identification has been made and next-of-kin has been notified, Ables says.

ELSEWHERE

Nonfatal fires: Buildings damaged in Ga., S.C. blazes

1. On Monday morning, a fire engulfed a home on Highway 220 East in Lincoln County. Martin’s Crossroads Fire Chief Vinny Vizari said no other buildings were endangered by the fire, which was reported at 5 a.m. The cause is undetermined.
2. A house was seriously damaged in a fire on Bayne Street in Orangeburg on Saturday morning. It took fire crews several hours to get it under control, but no one was injured.
3. In Georgia, First Pentecostal Church of Buford was destroyed by a fire on Thanksgiving. “There’s a lot of sadness, but there’s no fear in what’s to come,” Paster Jordan Copeland said. “God is going to 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’s consistently earned Augusta a top spot in the country for the most home fires.

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

According to FEMA one of every seven house fires will involve some sort of heating equipment.

“A lot of it’s home heating related. According to the National Fire Protection Association, it’s the second leading cause of residential fires in the country,” said Daniel Smith, North Augusta Public Safety sergeant.

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

“Usually when the first cold snap happens, people just start firing up the heaters and start to find issues or problems,” said Danny Kuhlmann, rescue and operation chief at Columbia County Fire.

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

“The popular resort is space heaters,” said Smith. “There’s a safe way to use the space heater, and that’s by leaving it on a level surface, plugging it directly into a grounded outlet, not using extension cords and keeping it at least three feet away from any kind of combustible.”

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

“Before you use your fireplace, make sure that you have it inspected,” said Smith. “Make sure that the chimney is clear, nothing obstructing it because you’re going to be sending embers up into the chimney. Chimney fires are very common.”

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

“Decorations lights. Make sure there’s no phrase in the wires,” said Smith. “Make sure if you have a live Christmas tree it stays watered. Christmas trees, when they dry out, they burn extremely fast, and when you wrap lights around it, if there’s an electrical short in those lights, it’ll be on fire in no time.”

Officials say the risk of falling victim to a fire is highest when you’re asleep.

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

The firefighters we spoke with recommend getting your chimney inspected once a year to make sure there isn’t a debris build-up in there because that can catch fire.

If you are in need of smoke detectors the American Red Cross will install them for you at no cost. You can call 1-800-red cross.

If you’re going to use a space heater, keep these tips in mind:

• Buy a model that shuts off if the space heater falls over.
• Don’t use an extension cord with your space heater.
• Keep the space heater far away from flammables like paper, bedding, curtains and rugs.
• Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
• Never leave your space heater unattended.

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

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

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

• Avoid opening doors or windows.
• Close off rooms you aren’t using.
• Stuff towels or rags in door cracks.
• Cover your windows with drapes or blankets overnight.

Just because ovens are warm doesn’t mean they should be used to heat your home. Leaving a gas oven on for a long time can cause a carbon monoxide buildup, which can be deadly. Even electric ovens can overheat or malfunction, and they use a lot of electricity, increasing your bills.

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

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