COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. (BN24) — A devastating house fire in North Carolina claimed the lives of four young sisters early Saturday morning, leaving two other girls to escape and call for help. The fire, which broke out around 2:30 a.m. on August 30, engulfed the home on North Colony Road, claiming the lives of children aged 2 to 7.
According to Columbus County Fire Marshal Shannon Blackman, there were no adults present at the time of the blaze. Two 12-year-old girls, one of whom was a sister of the deceased, managed to escape the flames. They quickly called 911, alerting authorities, and the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office, along with a Chadbourn Rescue team, responded within minutes.
However, by the time first responders arrived, the house was already fully engulfed in flames, and attempts to enter the home to rescue the trapped children were unsuccessful. Columbus County Sheriff Bill Rogers explained that the fire’s intensity made it impossible for emergency crews to enter the house safely.
“Due to the severity of the fire, it was not possible to make a safe entry into the home,” Rogers said in a statement. “It was a tragic, heartbreaking scene.”
The community has been rocked by the loss, as the family is well known locally. The victims — identified as Kendall, Kalani, Josie, and Sophia — have left a profound impact on those who knew them. Reagan Powers, the girls’ mother, has been named in reports as the grieving parent.
In the wake of this unimaginable tragedy, two Columbus County residents have launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the family. “It is with heavy hearts that we share the devastating news of the tragic loss of Kendall, Kalani, Josie, and Sophia, who passed away in a house fire,” Ansley Hayes and B. Tyler Grainger wrote in a heartfelt message.
The fundraiser describes the four girls as bringing “immense joy and love” to their family and those fortunate enough to know them. Many in the community have expressed their sorrow and support as the family processes this profound loss.
As the investigation into the cause of the fire continues, the community is left to mourn the tragic deaths of these young girls, while offering comfort and assistance to the survivors. The GoFundMe campaign continues to collect donations to help the family through this heartbreaking time.
