Memorial grows after deadly house fire in Columbus County

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — An investigation is underway after four children died in a house fire in Columbus County early Saturday morning. 

A memorial with flowers, a picture, a note, stuffed animals and other items were placed at the bottom of the driveway. 

The fire happened on North Colony Road near Peacock Road around 3 am.  

Six children were in the house. Two of the oldest were able to get out. Four children, ages 2, 4, 6 and 7 years old died in the house fire.

Their bodies have been sent to the medical examiner’s office for an autopsy. 

The mother was not home during the fire, according to a spokesman for the State Bureau of Investigation.  

There was no adult over the age of 18 in the home at the time of the incident, the SBI said.  

We spoke with Rudolph Yates, a Chadbourn local Monday, who says it was a tragedy. 

“Good hearted family and well-kept and everything. This is a tragic time and a tragic time for the community. We need to have unity in the community. So, I’m sorry for their loss but I am here with them,” Yates said. 

A spokesman for Columbus County Schools., tells us they will have additional counselors at Chadbourn Elementary School, where two of the kids that died were enrolled, as well as West Columbus School Tuesday for students, teachers and staff. 

The office of the State Fire Marshal’s Office is handling the evidence collection of the fire itself.  

The SBI is assisting both the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office and the OSFM. 

The Sheriff’s Office will handle any type of criminal charges, if there are any.  

If you are able to and would like to support the family, they have a GoFundMe, which can be found here.