Two dead after house fire that South Carolina police are calling homicide

Two people died following a house fire Sunday in South Carolina, and one of them is accused of intentionally starting the blaze that’s being investigated as a homicide, according to the Charleston Police Department.

Although the Charleston County Coroner’s Office has not publicly identified the people who died, on Monday police said they were adult relatives.

At about 10 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to reports of a fire at a home in the 1600 block of Seabago Drive, police said in a news release. That’s in the West Ashley area of South Carolina’s Lowcountry.

Members of both the Charleston Fire Department and Saint Andrews Fire Department battled the fire in the burning building and initiated rescue efforts, according to the release. Information about how long it took to extinguish the fire was not available.

Detectives determined that the fire was intentionally set by an adult resident, who died at the scene, police said. There was no word about when and where in the house the fire was started.

The victim suffered serious injuries and was taken by EMS to an area hospital, and later died, according to the release.

The coroner’s office has not announced either of the causes of death.

Police said that no one else was believed to be inside the residence at the time of the fire, and no other injuries were reported.

Both police and the Charleston Fire Department Fire Marshal Division are continuing to investigate the arson-related deaths.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 843-720-2422, or via email at speaktocpd@charleston-sc.gov.