Richland County Fire Marshal rules Friday night fatal house fire an accident

Combustible material too close to a heating device sparked the home fire that killed a 62-year-old Hopkins man Friday night, the Richland County Fire Marshal’s office said in a news release Saturday.

The fire began in a room adjacent to George Lincoln Johnson’s bedroom, fire investigators determined.

The fire spread and caused extensive damage to the house on Blue Johnson Road in Lower Richland and a vehicle parked nearby.

Johnson died from asphyxiation due to smoke inhilation, Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said on Saturday.

Firefighters responded to the home, off Garners Ferry Road, at about 9:40 p.m. Friday to find a fully involved fire units.

They were able to protect a neighboring home, according to Columbia Fire Department spokesman Capt. Brick Lewis.

This story was originally published December 19, 2015 at 12:26 PM.