4 People, Including a Child and an Infant, Die in House Fire While Seemingly ‘Trying To Escape Through a Window’

Four people — including two young children — died while trying to escape a house fire in upstate South Carolina early Sunday morning, while one person managed to get out safely.

Authorities said the fire broke out around 1:40 a.m. on Oct. 26 at a one-story home in Gaffney. According to Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler, Kathy Shippy escaped the blaze and ran across the street to ask a neighbor to call for help. Security footage later revealed that much of the house was already engulfed in flames by the time she sought assistance.

“A doorbell camera on the neighbor’s house shows the structure was fully involved with fire at that time,” Fowler said in a statement.

While Kathy made it out alive, four others in the home did not. The victims were identified as 38-year-old Willie Morris, 25-year-old Dakeyia Shippy, 4-year-old Mason Issac, and 7-month-old Jerekry McGill.

Authorities have not confirmed the exact relationship between the victims, though Fowler said they all lived in the same home.

Investigators traced the cause of the fire to an indoor kerosene heater. According to Kathy, Morris “was attempting to refuel a kerosene heater inside the home when fire erupted,” Fowler said.

“All four victims were found on the floor of the kitchen at the rear of the house,” he added. “They appeared to have been trying to escape through a window when they were overcome by smoke.”

The Cherokee County Coroner’s Office, Gaffney Fire Marshall, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division are investigating the incident. Autopsies have been scheduled as part of the ongoing inquiry.