One dead, another hurt at fire where firefighters are injured, SC official says
A body was found Tuesday morning at a house fire in South Carolina where another person was seriously injured and two emergency responders also were hurt, according to Lexington County officials.
Donna Jones Hunter, a 66-year-old Lexington resident, died in the fire, Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher said.
At about 6 a.m., the Lexington County Fire Service responded to a call about a fire in the 100 block of Gillfield Court, Lexington County spokeswoman Vanessa Diaz told The State.
When crews arrived, they found a two-story home with heavy flames coming from the back of the house, officials said.
Firefighters learned that one person was still inside the burning building, and they made several rescue attempts but were forced to retreat because of the extreme heat and fire conditions, according to officials.
Diaz said one resident, later identified as Hunter, died in the home, and the coroner’s office was called to the scene in the area of Lexington between West Main Street and Park Road.
Hunter’s cause of death has not been announced by the coroner’s office, which said an autopsy will be conducted Wednesday.
A second person was taken to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia, for treatment, officials said. Further information on that victim’s condition was not available.
Two firefighters were hurt in the line of duty and were taken to Lexington Medical Center with minor injuries, according to Diaz. Both have since been released and are expected to return to duty for their next shift, officials said.
No other injuries were reported.
The fire was extinguished, but as of 10 a.m., firefighters and members of the coroner’s office were still at the scene, according to Diaz. Information about when the fire was extinguished was not available.
The Lexington County Fire Marshal, the Lexington Police Department, the State Fire Marshall’s Office, the fire service and coroner’s office are expected to investigate the cause of the fire, and where it originated. Officials did not say if foul play was suspected.
There was no word about the extent of the damages, or if the home was considered a total loss. The fire was contained to the one home and did not damage neighboring properties, Diaz said.
However, nearby Beltrees Drive was closed as emergency responders battled the blaze, according to the Lexington Police Department.
Police, along with members of the Irmo Fire District and Lexington County EMS, joined the Lexington County Fire Service in responding to the fire.
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This story was originally published October 14, 2025 at 10:16 AM with the headline "One dead, another hurt at fire where firefighters are injured, SC official says."
