Racepath leader accepting donations for Myrtle Beach area families displaced by Sunday fire

A smoke detector is credited with saving the lives of seven people who were left without a home when a fire ripped through their Racepath Street duplex Sunday morning.

Fire emergency tape barred part of the charred duplex Monday afternoon as Racepath community leader, the Rev. William Gause, fielded calls from others eager to help. Gause said he plans to use his nonprofit organization, Phoenix Renaissance, Inc., to accept donations for the affected families.

“It’s a bad time when anything like this happens, but it seems worse when you’re right up on Christmas,” Gause said.

The Racepath community resides on county land, surrounded by city of Myrtle Beach territory. Horry County Fire Rescue took the lead investigating the fire.

Brian VanAernem, spokesman for Horry County Fire Rescue, said a smoke detector was installed in the home last December and it was the screech of that detector on Sunday that alarmed a resident who was able to get others out to safety.

VanAernem said Monday afternoon that he didn’t know the cause of the fire, but it would be released at a news conference at noon Tuesday in front of the home at 1672 Racepath St.

For more information on donations, contact Gause at 843-283-3864. Checks can be made payable to Phoenix Renaissance, Inc.

This story was originally published December 21, 2015 at 6:42 PM with the headline "Racepath leader accepting donations for Myrtle Beach area families displaced by Sunday fire."