Four Young Sisters Die in Columbus County, NC, House Fire

Two 11-year-olds managed to escape and called 9-1-1, Columbus County Fire Marshal Shannon Blackman said.

Sept. 2, 2025

A house fire in Columbus County claimed the lives of four sisters while two other children managed to escape.

The girls were 2, 4, 6 and 7.

Two 11-year-olds managed to escape and called 9-1-1. But they could not reach the victims, Columbus County Fire Marshal Shannon Blackman told ColumbusCountyNews.

A Chadbourn Rescue team en route back from Columbus Regional and a deputy on patrol encountered a fully involved house.

“There was no way they could enter the structure at that point,” Blackman said.

No adults were home when the fire broke out about 3 a.m. Saturday.

Among the agencies investigating include the state fire marshal, the Columbus County fire marshal, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations and the sheriff's office.

About the Author

Susan Nicol

News Editor

Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.