Horry County police say no signs of foul play found at fatal house fire

The cause of a house fire that killed an Horry County man Saturday night remained under investigation on Monday, Horry County police Lt. Raul Denis said.

There were no signs of foul play in the fire where Joe Russell, 44, died, but the cause remains under investigation by detectives, Denis said.

In a report released Monday, Horry County police learned that Russell went to a neighbor’s house about 8 p.m. Saturday and used the telephone before he returned home at 3910 Socastee Blvd.

The neighbor told officers that Russell was intoxicated when he used the telephone, according to the report. About 9:30 p.m. Saturday, the neighbor heard a loud boom at Russell’s home and looked out to see the mobile home engulfed in flames and called authorities.

Firefighters found Russell in the kitchen area of the home while they were extinguishing the blaze, Denis said.

Russell’s wife told authorities she received two calls from the neighbor’s phone, but she didn’t know whose number it was and didn’t answer the calls, according to the report. She was not at the home at the time of the blaze and said she last saw Russell about 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

This story was originally published April 13, 2015 at 2:22 PM with the headline "Horry County police say no signs of foul play found at fatal house fire."