Four Family Members Killed in Early Morning House Fire in Gaffney, S.C.
GAFFNEY, S.C. — A tragic fire in the early hours of Sunday morning claimed the lives of four members of a family in this Upstate South Carolina community, officials said Monday.
The blaze broke out around 1:40 a.m. at a one-story wood-frame home on East Third Street in Gaffney, Cherokee County, according to the county coroner’s office.
A resident, identified as Kathy Shippy, escaped the blaze and ran across the street to alert a neighbor and make the 911 call. Surveillance footage from the neighbor’s door-bell camera showed the home was fully engulfed in flames by the time the call was placed.
Victims and cause
The coroner identified the four deceased as:
Willie Morris, 38
Dakeyia Shippy, 25
Mason Issac, 4
Jerekry McGill, 7 months old
Preliminary findings suggest the fire began when Morris attempted to refuel a kerosene heater inside the home. According to the coroner’s release, the victims were found lying on the floor of the kitchen at the rear of the home. They “appeared to have been trying to escape through a window when they were overcome by smoke.”
Autopsies have been scheduled and the fire remains under joint investigation by the Gaffney Fire Marshal’s Office, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
Community and safety response
Jamie Caggiano, chief of the Gaffney Fire Department, urged residents to exercise extreme caution when using space heaters and kerosene heaters, especially indoors or in cooler weather. “Never attempt to refuel a heater indoors or while it is still hot,” he emphasized.
Neighbors described the loss as heartbreaking, with many in the tight-knit community of Gaffney rallying to support the survivor and the family. The incident serves as a stark reminder of how fast indoor heating devices can become deadly when misused.
Importance of safety practices
Fire experts say that indoor refueling of kerosene heaters greatly increases the risk of ignition, as vapors can build up and the heater’s surface or fuel container remains hot. Smoke inhalation is also a leading cause of death in residential fires. In this case, the victims were found at what may have been a last-ditch escape attempt.
Officials expect the full investigation and autopsy results to clarify all the details, including exact origin and spread. Meanwhile, residents in Cherokee County are being encouraged to:
Check that space heaters are listed by safety standards and placed well away from combustible materials.
Never refuel or service heaters while they are hot, and always allow them to cool outside.
Ensure homes have working smoke detectors, clear escape routes, and that all occupants know how to exit quickly.
As the community mourns this tragic outcome, the message from Gaffney’s first responders is clear: the use of indoor heating tools carries real risk and demands respect through proper handling and vigilance.
