UPDATE: Pregnant woman, 2 others die in fire

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Firefighters are working to determine what caused an early-morning house fire that killed three people, including pregnant woman and a three-year-old.

Crews got the call around 5:45 a.m. about a fire at a home in the 2700 block of Sims Trail in the Supply area near Holden Beach. Firefighters say when the call came in, they were told people were inside. They found one person outside the home and took that person to the hospital. Three other occupants of the home were unable to escape, resulting in four deaths.

The victims have been identified as Keith Thatcher, 22, Melissa Thatcher, 23, and Caleb Rankin, 3. Melissa Thatcher was four months pregnant, officials said.

When fire crews arrived on scene, the home was engulfed in flames. William Smith, who works in the area, saw the scene this morning.

“I just seen firetrucks going everywhere from both roads out,” Smith said. “The rescue squad from the other road out. They were calling all the local fire departments and rescue squads and stuff. And I mean traffic was just bombarded heading towards the beach.”

There’s also no word on the cause of the fire yet.