88-Year-Old Man Dies from Murrells Inlet House Fire Smoke**
An 88-year-old man has tragically died following a house fire in **Murrells Inlet**, South Carolina, officials confirmed Monday morning.
According to the **Murrells Inlet-Garden City Fire District**, emergency crews responded to reports of a structure fire on Sunday evening around 8:15 p.m. When firefighters arrived at the scene on **Mallard Pond Road**, they encountered heavy smoke billowing from the single-story residence.
Crews were able to quickly knock down the flames and contain the fire to a portion of the home. However, during their search, firefighters located the elderly man inside the house, unresponsive and suffering from severe smoke inhalation. He was immediately removed from the building and transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The identity of the victim has not been publicly released pending notification of next of kin.
Fire investigators believe the blaze originated in the kitchen area, though the exact cause remains under investigation. Officials have stated that **no working smoke detectors** were found inside the home, which may have contributed to the victim’s inability to escape in time.
“This is a heartbreaking reminder of the importance of having functional smoke alarms in every home,” said Fire Chief Norman Knight. “Smoke is often more deadly than flames, especially for older adults.”
Neighbors described the man as a kind, quiet individual who had lived in the neighborhood for decades. One resident, Michelle Carter, said, “He always waved when I walked by. It’s so sad to think he passed like that.”
The fire department plans to conduct a **free smoke detector giveaway** in the coming weeks as part of its community safety initiative.
Authorities continue to investigate the fire, and more details will be released as they become available.
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