Bush expresses sympathy for fire victims

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — President Bush says he and first lady Laura Bush are sorry for the loss of seven South Carolina college students in a fire in North Carolina.

Bush spoke this morning when he arrived in Columbia, South Carolina, for a fundraiser for Senator Lindsey Graham.

Bush says he knows people are hurting at the loss of the six University of South Carolina students and one Clemson University student.

Bush says he hopes the families and loved ones can take comfort the people in South Carolina and around the country are praying for them.

Officials in Ocean Isle Beach have tentatively scheduled a 3 p.m. news conference today to release the findings of the State Bureau of Investigation report into the fire.

Six USC students survived Sunday morning’s fire.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)