Two Fires claim Three Lives in OC

The investigation continues today into the cause of two fires that claimed three people’s lives in Oconee County over the weekend. Oconee County Fire Chief Charlie King tells about the first fire that occurred on Brooksmoore Drive. “Around 9pm last night, we got 911 calls reporting on Brooksmoore Drive near the Five Forks Community outside of Walhalla. Fire department arrived within ten minutes and found a home well involved in fire. It appeared that it had been burning for some time. They worked for about 30 minutes to bring the fire under control. Neighbors and family that were there told firefighters there was potential for there to be two occupants still in the home, their car was still in the driveway. Once the fire was out, firefighters searched through the debris over a couple of hours and found the remains of two individuals in the home. The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, the Oconee County Coroner’s Office and SLED are continuing to investigate both the manner of the start of the fire and the nature of death for both occupants of the home. That investigation is ongoing at this time.” Chief King gives details about the second fire, which occurred on Seneca Creek Road. “Right at midnight last night, again 911 calls were received reporting a house fire in the 100 block of Seneca Creek Road, just past the Oconee County Regional Airport. Fire departments arrived pretty quickly to find a home well involved in fire. They extinguished within about ten minutes and again as they were searching the home and working inside found the remains of one individual still inside the home. SLED, the Oconee County Coroner’s Office, and the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office are working to investigate the cause and nature of that fire as well and that investigation is still ongoing at this time.” The three fire victims’ names have not been released.