2 victims identified in fatal Eastover house fire, coroner says
Two people were killed in an early-morning house fire just outside of Columbia, the Richland County Coroner’s Office said.
Members of the Columbia Fire Department responded to the blaze at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, department officials said in a news release.
When firefighters arrived at the home in the 1600 block of Chain Gang Road, they found the Eastover home was engulfed in flames, according to the release. That’s less than three miles from Eason Memorial Baptist Church on Old Eastover Road.
Karl Williams, 59, was found outside on the rear porch and suffered significant injuries, according to Richland County Coroner Gary Watts and fire officials. Williams was taken to Prisma Health Richland Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Watts said.
After the blaze was brought under control, Tracey Williams, 50, was found inside the home in the hallway near the rear door, according to the coroner and fire officials. She was pronounced dead on the scene, Watts said.
Both victims died of smoke inhalation, Watts said.
No other injuries were caused by the blaze, fire department spokesman Mike DeSumma told The State.
Coroner Gary Watts said his office was conducting autopsies on the victims and expects to publicly identify them Wednesday afternoon or evening. There was no word if the victims lived at the residence.
Information on the cause of the fire was not available, but it is being investigated by the Richland County Fire Marshal’s Office.
This story was originally published May 20, 2020 at 12:37 PM.
