He died saving his wife from a fire. What started the blaze remains unknown

The fire that killed a 70-year-old man and damaged three condos in the Forest Acres area on Jan. 6 was ruled an accident.

Forest Acres Police Chief Gene Sealey said the blaze began in the living room area of the condo occupied by Harold and Sophie Morse. Investigators with the fire marshal’s office ruled the fire an accident, but are still trying to determine how it started.

“That’s still not real clear,” Sealey said. “We do know there were some candles that had been burning inside.”

Columbia firefighters responded around 8:20 a.m. to Point Arcadia condos, just off Decker Boulevard. They found a deceased person later identified as Harold Morse.

Chief Aubrey Jenkins said Morse got out of the home but went back inside to wake his wife, Sophie. Morse died of smoke inhalation, according to the Richland County Coroner’s Office.

Six people were displaced by the blaze, officials said.