8 of 11 Children Alone in House Die in Fire
One of 11 children left alone at home apparently poured gasoline on a potbellied stove when its fire died early Sunday, setting a blaze that raced through the house, killing eight of them, authorities said.
Three adults were arrested and charged with neglect by a legal custodian. Three children escaped the blaze and were in protective custody in foster homes, Bamberg County Sheriff Ed Darnell said.
The three survivors apparently were saved by a fourth child who was killed as he went in to save more children, Fire Chief Joe C. Folk said.
“One got out and was able to pull three others out. When he went back in, the ceiling fell on him,” Folk said.
The victims were between 2 and 11 years old.
The children were left alone in the home about 10 p.m. Saturday, and when a fire in a wood-burning stove died out, one of the children apparently poured gasoline in it because he was cold, Darnell said.
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