The cause of a house fire on Monday that destroyed the home of Carole Ormand is still under investigation.
The fire began Monday morning while Ormand was sleeping. She says she woke up to a smoke-filled bedroom and escaped through a window with her dog in tow. Another man saved her cats which were staying on a screened porch. Ormand was treated at the hospital for smoke inhalation and was released.
Ormand’s house, located at 22536 U.S. 176 just up Ridge Road at the state line, was a total loss. Tryon Fire Chief Joey Davis says the Greenville County, S.C., Sheriffs Office is investigating the cause of the blaze, which officials say started in the living room.
Ormands home was one of four in just the last week that have caught fire in the area. A home at 1470 Warrior Drive was totally destroyed in a fire on Dec. 22. According to Davis, the insurance investigator says the fire was either a chimney fire or caused by a problem with the fireplace. Because the cause can’t yet be pinpointed, Davis says the fire is still listed as under investigation.
Another fire on Dec. 22 at 322 Highland Avenue in Saluda has been ruled a chimney fire. Tryon and Columbus fire crews were dispatched, but canceled once the Saluda Fire and Rescue arrived on scene.
On Dec. 26 another chimney fire began at 221 Bradshaw Road in Tryon. Davis said the Tryon Fire Department checked the residence and found no problems and just let the chimney fire burn out on its own.