Victim Identified in Deadly Florence County Mobile Home Fire, Explosion

The quiet community of Florence County, South Carolina was disturbed by a ghastly mobile home fire and explosion on Thursday, which claimed one life and caused several injuries. The deadly accident took place at a mobile home on 1905 Gilbert Drive, Florence at around 1:30 pm.

Explosion and Fire Incident

Residents in the immediate neighborhood were the first responders on the distressing scene. Witnesses reported hearing an alarming explosion from the mobile home followed by large flames which rapidly engulfed the entire structure. Several residents rushed to the site, putting their lives at risk, to provide whatever assistance they could.

By the time the Florence County Sheriff’s Office and Florence Fire Department personnel arrived, the mobile home was completely inflamed. The intense heat and towering flames presented a challenge to the first responders and they had to wait for the Fire Department’s expert fire control team to subdue the fire before they could commence their probe into this horrific incident.

Victim and Injuries

Officials reported that at the time of the incident, the mobile home had eight occupants. Among the residents, there were multiple casualties while one was tragically deceased. The deceased was discovered by the firefighters in a bedroom.

The Florence County Coroner’s Office has since identified the deceased as Ellen Boyce Greene, a 50-year-old Florence resident. The circumstances leading to Greene’s demise are still under investigation. An autopsy is slated for Saturday at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in an attempt to gain further understanding of the cause of death.

Investigations Underway

The Florence County Sheriff’s and Coroner’s Office are leading the probe into the tragic occurrence. Fire Marshalls and investigative teams from the Windy Hill Fire Department are also on the scene, carrying out their respective investigations.

Investigators are currently working to piece together the circumstances that led to the explosion and subsequent fire. Primarily, they hope to establish the cause of the explosion and why it escalated to such a devastating fire so rapidly. This detail could be crucial in preventing future tragedies of a similar nature.

A Traumatized Community

The Gilbert Drive community is understandably traumatized in the aftermath of such a horrifying incident. Relatives and friends of the deceased are coming to terms with the untimely loss. There is collective concern about the injured household members who are receiving medical attention. They are all extending their support to each other in this difficult period, manifesting the strong sense of community that prevails in Florence.

As investigations continue, the residents of Gilbert Drive and the larger Florence community are hoping for answers. The incident has brought forth questions about the safety measures in place in mobile homes and the need for stricter regulations to prevent future fire-related tragedies.