Officials urge fire safety after blaze kills four children UPDATE

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — We are continuing to learn more details about an early morning fire this weekend, that killed four children. 

The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office says patrol units responded around 2:30 a.m. on August 30 to 259 North Colony Road in reference to a reported structure fire with entrapments after Columbus Central heard from a female caller who stated her residence was on fire and four children remained inside.

“When the first deputy arrived on scene nine minutes after the initial call, the residence was fully engulfed in flames,” a statement from the Sheriff’s Office says. “Due to the severity of the fire, it was not possible to make a safe entry into the home.”

According to the State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor, the fire was in a building that was not a residence. 

However, the family was living there as a home. 

There were also no working smoke alarms in the building. 

Six children were in the structure at the time of the fire and the two oldest were able to escape.  

The State Bureau of Investigation said no adults were home.  

Taylor adds this incident is a good reminder about the importance of fire alarms. 

“You should always have a working smoke alarm one each level of your home and also a working CO alarm. But, also, it is important to have a plan, you can have that alarm, but you also need to have a plan,” Taylor said. 

Taylor adds that you can buy alarms that last for up to ten years now, but it is important to check them monthly to ensure you can hear them.

He also adds to keep the family of the victims in your thoughts. As well as the firefighters and first responders who were on the scene.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. 

Previous stories:

Four children killed in early morning fire near Chadbourn – WWAYTV3

Memorial grows after deadly house fire in Columbus County – WWAYTV3