South Carolina

Two killed in trailer fire at Midlands mobile home park, coroner says

Two people were killed Tuesday in a trailer fire at a Midlands mobile home park, the Sumter County Coroner’s Office said.

Sumter residents Crystal Grant, 31, and Harry Smoot, 82, died at the scene, Coroner Robbie Baker said in a news release.

The fire happened in the morning at the Crescent Mobile Home Park, at 4400 Broad Street, according to the release. That’s near Shaw Air Force Base, and about 35 miles from Columbia.

Their bodies were found inside a single-wide mobile home, Baker said.

Autopsies are scheduled for Wednesday at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, according to the release.

The deaths are under investigation by the coroner’s office, the Sumter Fire Department, and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

It is not a criminal investigation at this time, sheriff’s office spokeswoman Deputy Adrienne Sarvis told The State.

In January, elevated levels of a potentially hazardous class of chemicals were found in drinking water at the mobile home park, The State reported.

“Based on what we know, it doesn’t appear the fire was related to those contaminated water issues,” Sarvis said.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) told Crescent Mobile Home Park residents about the toxic findings, saying the levels found in the water exceeded a federal health safety standard, according to The State.

DHEC advised neighbors not to drink from their taps.

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This story was originally published February 11, 2020 at 2:30 PM with the headline "Two killed in trailer fire at Midlands mobile home park, coroner says."

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Noah Feit
The State
Noah Feit is a Real Time reporter with The State focused on breaking news, public safety and trending news. The award-winning journalist has worked for multiple newspapers since starting his career in 1999. Support my work with a digital subscription
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