Fatal Structure Fire--Pineforest Dr.

Last Tuesday, January 31, Belton firefighters were dispatched to a reported structure fire with entrapment in the 300 block of Pineforest Dr.  Cheddar and Friendship firefighters also responded with rapid intervention teams provided by Williamston and Honea Path.  Units were on scene within two minutes to find a one story residential with moderate smoke conditions showing.  Assistance was already being provided by Belton Police and Street Department employees.  BFD members quickly began a primary search and stretched an attack line to extinguish the fire.  After minutes of searching the victim was located and pronounced dead at the scene.  The fire was extinguished and was kept to one room with partial extension into another and there was extensive smoke damage throughout.  This was the first fire fatality in ten years inside the city.  SLED was notified for assistance and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.  Photos from the Anderson Independent Website.