4 Children Killed in Columbus County House Fire, Two Others Escape
COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. — A devastating early morning house fire in Columbus County claimed the lives of four young sisters on Saturday, while two others managed to escape and alert authorities.
The fire broke out just after 2:30 a.m. at a home on North Colony Road, about a mile northeast of Chadbourn, according to Columbus County Fire Marshal Shannon Blackman.
Tragic Loss of Four Sisters
Officials confirmed that the victims were between 2 and 7 years old. Two 11-year-old girls who were also inside the home escaped and called 911 for help.
Blackman said that by the time first responders arrived, including a deputy from the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office and a Chadbourn Rescue team, the blaze was already too intense for anyone to enter.
“There was no way they could enter the structure at that point,” Blackman said.
Emergency Response
Crews remained at the scene into the afternoon as investigators sifted through the debris of the destroyed home, located near the interchange of U.S. 74 and N.C. 410.
Columbus County Sheriff Bill Rogers said the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the Fire Marshal’s Office are leading the investigation into the cause of the fire.
Community in Mourning
The tragedy has shaken the community just miles from Whiteville, with neighbors expressing grief over the sudden loss of four young lives. Officials have not yet released the names of the victims.
Authorities are expected to provide further updates as the investigation continues.
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