Suspicious Hilda house fire investigated

Multiple Barnwell County fire departments responded to a “suspicious fire” last week that underwent investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).

Around 6:50 p.m. on Thursday, November 10 the Hilda Fire Department, Blackville Fire Department, and Friendship Fire Department were dispatched to Delk Avenue in Hilda.

“Later on in the call we toned out Barnwell Rural for manpower and tankers,” said Barnwell County Fire Coordinator Wesley Gatlin.

Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) deputies and investigators were also on scene.

According to Hilda Fire Chief Thomas Sharpe, when Hilda firefighters arrived on the scene Thursday evening the fire had broken through the roof and gone into the attic rendering the home unlivable with $134,000 worth of damage.

Hilda firefighters left the call around two o’clock Friday morning, according to Chief Sharpe.

According to BCSO’s report naming the incident as a “suspicious fire,” responding officers and officials noted “the fire appeared suspicious in nature,” partly based on statements made by someone on scene. Firefighters observed a fire pattern along a wall inside a middle room of the home that made a V-pattern, according to the report.

The report states they were met by a female upon arrival who too suspected the fire was not accidental due to “issues her and the victim were having in their divorce.”

The owners of the home are Jackie Ray and Stephanie Ray of Hilda, according to county officials and Barnwell County property records.

According to the victim’s statement, he was in the backyard working on his daughter’s car when he left to go eat supper. A neighbor observed the victim in the backyard and later saw smoke coming from the home.

The BCSO incident report states, “No signs of foul play were discovered,” and “no signs of accelerants were detected, and the cause of the fire was undetermined.”

The fire remains under investigation by SLED.