Flags statewide to fly at half-staff to honor Conway firefighter

Gov. Nikki Haley requests that flags statewide be flown at half-staff from sunrise until sunset Friday in honor of Conway firefighter Christopher Gene Ray, who was killed Sunday during a call to a house fire.

Firefighters across Horry County are mourning the loss of Ray, who was killed after falling from a fire engine, which struck the firefighter while reversing down a street near the fire on Hickory Circle.

Ray’s funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at Beach Church, 557 George Bishop Parkway in Myrtle Beach. Visitation is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Goldfinch Conway Chapel.

The fire gutted the house on Hickory Circle, but no injuries inside the home were reported.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives offered additional manpower to the department’s arson team to investigate the cause of the fire while the Conway personnel mourn their loss.

Meanwhile, Trooper Sonny Collins with the S.C. Highway Patrol said Tuesday that the details of the incident are still under investigation, and that it will take weeks before a final report is made public.

The state Department of Labor is also investigating whether any OSHA violations occurred that may have contributed to the incident, said Labor Department spokeswoman Lesia Kudelka. That review is expected to take at least two months.

Audrey Hudson: 843-444-1765, @AudreyHudson

This story was originally published March 22, 2016 at 12:59 PM with the headline "Flags statewide to fly at half-staff to honor Conway firefighter."