A devastating house fire in Columbus County, North Carolina, claimed the lives of four young sisters aged between 2 and 7 after they were left home alone overnight. The blaze erupted around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 30, leaving the local community in shock and mourning.
According to Columbus County Fire Marshal Shannon Blackman, no adults were present when the fire broke out on North Colony Road. Tragically, the four sisters — identified by family and friends as Kendall, Kalani, Josie, and Sophia — did not survive.
Two 12-year-old girls, one of them also a sister, managed to escape the burning home and immediately called 911. Emergency responders from the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office and the Chadbourn Rescue Team arrived within seven minutes, but the home was already engulfed in flames.
Sheriff Bill Rogers explained in a news release:
“Due to the severity of the fire, it was not possible to make a safe entry into the home.”
The tragedy has deeply shaken the community. Two residents, Ansley Hayes and B. Tyler Grainger, have launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the grieving family. In their heartfelt message, they wrote:
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the devastating news of the tragic loss of Kendall, Kalani, Josie, and Sophia, who passed away in a house fire.”
The children’s mother, identified by local outlets as Reagan Powers, is said to be receiving overwhelming support from neighbors, friends, and community members. The fundraiser describes the sisters as:
“Beautiful souls who brought immense joy and love to their family and everyone who was blessed to know them.”
As investigations into the cause of the fire continue, Columbus County residents are rallying together in solidarity, offering prayers, donations, and emotional support to the grieving family.