SPARTANBURG, S.C.
--
Spartanburg fire investigators said a kerosene heater and a lack of smoke detectors are to blame for a mobile home fire Friday morning that killed 69-year-old twin brothers.
Fire crews, a coroner's investigator, police officers and deputies all responded to the fire call on King Line Street off Union Street around 7:15 a.m.
Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger identified the brothers as Tonie and Ronie Smith.
When firefighters arrived, they found heavy fire coming from the front door and the windows.
Fire investigator Lt. Brad Hall said, It appears they used a kerosene heater to heat the home this early this morning. Unfortunately, they did not have any smoke alarms. We believe the fire started at the kerosene heater in the living room. Its a tragedy that these two brothers had to die this way, but its an even greater tragedy that this may have been avoided by a having a simple, working smoke alarm.
Both brothers were found within a few feet of the back door.
Neighbors and friends of the victim gathered near what's left of the burned mobile home.
"Oh, we are so hurt. We are really hurt. We are really really sad. We hate this so much," said Shelia Jenkins, a friend of the victims. "We are really going to miss them. We're going to miss them. They were good friends. We're just going to miss them."
The twins were known for their generosity.
"Anything they could do for you, they would help you," Jenkins said. "They would give you a ride, they would take you to pay your bills, all you had to do is say you needed some help and they would be there."
"They were very good people," she said. "They always smiled and had a joke to tell all the time and I'm going to miss them so much in the neighborhood and I hope God that they made it to Heaven."
The fire on King Line Court was called in at 8:42 a.m.
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