Firefighters battled flames when they found dead woman inside home, SC cops say
A woman’s body was found inside of burning home in South Carolina early Sunday morning, according to the Forest Acres Police Department.
At about 2:30 a.m., Columbia Fire Department officials said that crews responded to a reported house fire in the 3500 block of Verner Street. That’s in the Forest Acres area of Columbia, near the intersection with North Beltline Boulevard and not far from Forest Drive.
Firefighters found heavy fire coming from the rear of the property when they arrived, and after entering the front of the home the crews located one person in a bedroom, according to the fire department.
Firefighters removed the occupant, as well as several pets that were in the home, and the Richland County Coroner’s Office was called and responded to the scene, the fire department said.
Police, who said they were called for assistance at about 3:10 a.m., reported that the victim was a woman.
The coroner’s office has not publicly identified the victim, or announced a cause of death. Police said that an autopsy was completed and no obvious signs of foul play were found. Results of toxicology tests are pending, according to police.
No other injuries were reported.
The fire was brought under control and extinguished and its cause is being investigated by both the Richland County Fire Marshal, along with the state Fire Marshal, officials said.
Police said they are leading the investigation into the woman’s death.
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This story was originally published June 16, 2025 at 8:49 AM.
