Fatal fire's cause remains unknown

Ocean Isle Beach | State investigators are still unsure what sparked the fire Sunday morning that claimed the lives of seven college students and injured another six, but improperly discarded smoking materials have not been ruled out.

The State Bureau of Investigation released a report Friday afternoon that confirmed the fire's origin was on the back deck of the three-story canal-front home at 1 Scotland St.

"Due to the extensive damage in that area, the exact cause of the fire is undetermined," Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Debbie Smith read from the report Friday at a news conference. "However, based on the investigation, agents could not rule out improperly discarded smoking materials as a possible cause of the fire."

The report, sent from fire investigators with the SBI and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said there was "absolutely no evidence to indicate that the fire was intentionally set."

The Ocean Isle Beach Fire Department arrived at the scene of the fire 37 seconds after 7:07 a.m. Sunday. The fire was reported to a 911 dispatcher at 50 seconds after 7 a.m.

According to the SBI report, the smoke alarms in the house did activate to alert the occupants.

But only six made it out, including one man who jumped from a window and into the canal.

State Medical Examiner's reports said the seven college students found dead suffered from smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning.

The autopsy reports won't be complete until toxicology reports are received.

The investigation continues, and state officials will be focusing on the rate at which the fire spread and other factors contributing to the students' deaths, according to Friday's report.

Brunswick County Emergency Services Director Randy Thompson said he did not know how many, if any, of the students at the beach house were smokers.

"I think that question will be disclosed in the final report," he said after the news conference.

The preliminary report says the final findings may be several weeks away.

Fires started by lighted tobacco products are the leading cause of residential fire deaths, according to a 2006 report by the U.S. Fire Administration.

A fire that killed five UNC-Chapel Hill students in 1996 at a fraternity house was caused by carelessly discarded smoking materials.

The fire led Chapel Hill officials to require sprinkler systems in all fraternity and sorority houses and all new commercial or residential construction more than 6,000 square feet.

Thompson said he is sure state and national fire officials will discuss fire code changes that could include fire sprinkler requirements.

Still standing

A chain-link fence has been placed around the remnants of the Scotland Street home, and flowers and crosses have been placed in front of the property.

Ocean Isle Beach Fire Chief Robert "Bobby" Yoho, who attended Friday's news conference, said he did not know when the canal-side house would be turned over to its owners.

Fire investigators from The Warren Group, a private company specializing in fire investigations and forensic analysis of explosions and industrial accidents, are conducting an investigation on behalf of the insurers of the house, he said.

Yoho said that when the house is released by fire investigators to the owners, the Auman family of Darlington, S.C., it will be up to them to decide when to demolish what remains of the structure.

"I'm not aware of any time limits set by town ordinance that require the house to be torn down within a set period of time," Yoho said.

Under the somber circumstances, Yoho said, the fire department will not press the family to meet any firm deadline to raze the structure.

Shannan Bowen: 755-6307

shannan.bowen@starnewsonline.com