WBTW

SC girl dies a day after fire destroys family’s home

HONEA PATH, S.C. — Firefighters and investigators with the State Law Enforcement division are investigating a house fire that killed a 5-year-old girl in Honea Path.

The fire started Sunday night around 10:30 in the back porch area of the home located 2 Green Street.

The Anderson County Coroner’s Office says the girl, Sophia Rhodes, died at 6:23 Monday evening, according to Fox Carolina.

There were 4 adults and 5 children inside when the fire broke out, the Honea Path fire chief says.

Firefighters say the family escaped, but didn’t realize the girl was still inside.

Firefighters found the girl unconscious in a front room between a couch and a wall.  She was revived and flown to the Augusta Burn Center.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

There were no smoke detectors in the home, according to firefighters.

A close family friend says there were five young girls living in the home; ages ranging from 6 months to 15-years-old.

The family lost everything in the fire and they are asking for clothes donations, according to the family friend.

A GoFundMe account has also been created to help the family.— WSPA-TV contributed to this report