On Wednesday July 15 at 10:03 a.m., Colleton County Fire-Rescue was dispatched to a structure fire at 211 Iris Drive in Walterboro after the homeowner reported seeing smoke.
While extinguishing the fire, crews discovered the body of an adult female. Deputy Coroner Richard Carter said Kelly A. Adams, 55, of 211 Iris Dr., Walterboro, died in the fire from smoke inhalation and burn injuries. The death was ruled accidental, Carter said.
The first Fire-Rescue unit arrived in less than four minutes and found a single-story detached garage/workshop on fire and the homeowner using a garden hose to slow the spread of the fire.
Fire crews brought the fire under control in approximately 10 minutes, entering the building through a rear door and quickly knocking down the remaining fire, containing it to the room of origin, but the building received moderate damage.
The State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) was called to assist with the investigation, a standard procedure when a fire death occurs in Colleton County.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by Colleton County Fire-Rescue, Colleton County Sheriff’s Office, Colleton County Coroner’s Office, SLED Arson Unit and the S.C. Fire Marshal’s Office. No cause of the fire has been released.
This was the first fire fatality in Colleton County since May of 2018.
