Dillon fire kills 4, including 3 children
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Dillon Deadly House Fire
Dillon Deadly House Fire
Brian Formica/WBTW News13
This is the Dillon house where four people died Tuesday.
An early morning house fire claimed the lives of four people including three children in Dillon Tuesday.
According to Dillon firefighter Jerry Richardson, the fire happened at 310 South 4th Avenue in Dillon around 12:30 a.m. Once firefighters arrived at the scene, the house was totally engulfed in flames.
Richardson said that once firefighters were able to get in the home, they found the bodies of one adult and three children inside.
Residents and extended family who live near the home say the father tried to save his wife and three young children, but was unable to do so.
The Dillon County coroner’s office identified the victims as 27-year-old Jennifer Sowells, 4-year-old Lakwan Sowells, 3-year-old Curtis Sowells Jr. and 2-year-old Dere’ll Sowells.
Residents are holding a make-shift memorial for the family at a home near the residence, on the 300 block of Dargan street. There, friends will have a chance to come by and pay their respects.
The funeral home and family are seeking any monetary donations to help with funeral expenses, as they will have to bury four people.
The funeral director is asking that the community either call Kathy Sowell at (843) 615-3981, or come by the home where the memorial is taking place, at 305 E. Dargan street in Dillon.
They say the family did not have insurance.
Authorities believe the fire resulted from an electrical problem in the home.
Reader Reactions
My deepest condolences go out to these families. I just don’t understand the situation, but it’s not for us to understand. You can blame who you want to blame and chastize whom you want to chastize but no one is to blame here. All of our days are numbered. God knows who he wants and takes who he takes. This woman and her children are in a better place, they are no longer suffering…We as a people, we let our emotions overwhelm us, to go on and be with god is a blessing, Do I say you shouldn’t hurt, shouldn’t shed a tear, of course not to miss someone and be sad is our program, we are designed this way, but to blame is not the way God wants us to be. Rejoice in the lord for he is good. Bless this father and I pray for him because he needs to know you Lord- God will never leave you or forsake you, he is the beginning and the end. I know you’re hurting now Mr. Curtis but just hold on to your faith and you will see them again one day….Oh and on that joyus day you and your family will reunite in the presence of an almighty God, and everything will be alright. AMEN
Jennifer had a passion for life in general and her family specifically. Jennifer loved her children with her whole being. This was a strong fiercely independent woman who loved her family. She had the quick wittedness of a tigress. When she was around, everyone in her presence would be laughing, constantly.
Let’s address the slumlord that owned the property. He should be held responsible for the condition of his property! According to the neighbors and the fire inspector, there were at least 3 or 4 fires at this house prior to being rented to this family. Why had the house not been properly repaired after being burned several times before? Why did the landlord rent a house that had faulty wiring? The family had complained to the landlord about the fact that the electrical problems existed. The neighbors said that this same landlord owns several more properties that are basically in the same condition. Will he stand by and collect rents until the next house burns to the ground? Will history repeat itself with this or another one of his properties? Will other people die while he collects rent and looks the other way? I would like to ask the landlord how could he have been so insensitive as to approach Curtis, a grieving father? How could he say, “this was not an electrical fire”, especially after the fire Marshall had already said it was? No sympathy, empathy, no remorse of any kind. If this was an electrical fire, I hope he gets prosecuted for 4 murders.
Alma
they were my family and they will be greatly missed kwan (L C) curt and ‘rell and smoke (jennifer) your cousin perry
where to begin? to my little cousins rest in peace! to smoke your laughter will be missed!!tell kwan uncle ernee( that what he called me) will all ways have cookies for him;to curt jr ( my little buddy) you got all the balls now my man!!to ‘rell; we had no time!! to my first cousin curt i’am sooo sorry!!! perry
This is a serious matter how many people have to die before the fire personnel gets better. I lived in SC and I witness a fire and saw a house burn to the ground and that memory has stuck in my mind for years. Unfornuately this time there were 4 person killed but in my case a family pet who was like a family member to my cousin was killed. As the fire personnel joked and took their time. I am presently residing in CT but I keep touch with Latta and Dillon, SC because I have still have a home in Latta. I worry about something happening to my home because the fire personnel is too slow to get to the fire and I will lose my summer home and valuables that cannot be replaced. Human Lives cannot be replaced either, and we should not take this lightly,and chalk up to the fact that fire personnel were not notified in time. How is the father suppose to accept that answer when he heard his babies cry for help and his wife, too and he could not save them or the fire personnel. How would you feel? How more innocents lives have to be lost before something is done to fix this problem.
R.I.P Smoke,Lakwan,Curt Jr.,Dere’ll…. We have you in our prayers in VA. Godbless all of you.
I knew this young lady very briefly. She was extremely friendly and outgoing. My prayers are with her family at this time as they deal with this tragic situation.
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