Cause of deadly Fripp Island fire remains undetermined. Here’s why
The cause of a deadly Fripp Island fire this past August will apparently remain unresolved.
Joshua Horton, the Fripp Island fire chief, said Monday the cause officially been listed as “undetermined.”
The Aug. 16 fire at 718 Bonito Drive claimed the life of 70-year-old Michael Pate, a resident and devoted husband known for his love of golf, and a family dog named Ranger. It also destroyed two other unoccupied homes, one on each side of the Bonito Drive home. The exterior of a two additional homes was significantly damaged.
It’s the first time in the nearly five months since the deadly fire that officials have commented on the investigation. The gated resort community of about 800 residents, located on the Atlantic Ocean 18 miles east of Beaufort, also is a popular vacation destination.
“The amount of damage prevented us being able to determine a cause,” Horton told the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet on Monday.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division was asked to assist in the investigation. SLED spokesperson Renee Wunderlich said SLED has concluded its investigation, also concluding the fire’s cause was undetermined.
Multiple fire departments helped battle the blaze
Due to the intensity of the August fire, Fripp Island put out a call for help and departments from across the region responded. Working in extreme seasonal heat, firefighters battled the flames for 14 hours to control the spread to additional houses.
A neighbor told authorities he observed a fire in the garage at 718 Bonito Drive after he came outside to walk his dog, according to a report from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. The garage was on the ground level with the two-story house located directly above it. He saw a golf cart engulfed in flames that were already burning the ceiling beneath the main floor.
Residents and visitors captured the devastation with phone cameras and shared images of the flames and smoke across social media platforms.
This story was originally published January 6, 2026 at 10:55 AM.