Coroner names two people killed after fire breaks out Saturday at a home in Ridgeland
A fire at a home in Ridgeland Saturday morning killed at least two people, and the S.C. Law Enforcement Division and Jasper County Sheriff’s Office are investigating, officials say.
Jason Dessasure, 64, and Shakithia Leonard, 42, of Ridgeland were pronounced dead at the house from injuries sustained in the fire, Jasper County Coroner Willie P. Aiken III said. The fire broke out at the home on Glover Plantation Road after 6 a.m. Saturday, Aiken said.
It appears the fire began after the family living in the home installed an air conditioning unit that malfunctioned, Jasper County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Chief Deputy Jeff Crosby said.
Leonard was able to get other family members out of the home and went back in for Dessasure, who Crosby said was her father, before the roof collapsed, killing them both.
At least three other people were in the home at the time of the fire and were able to escape, according to Jasper County Fire Rescue Lt. Garrett Lucas.
Fire safety
House fires kill at least seven people a day, according to data from the American Red Cross. Those statistics show that smoke alarms can reduce the risk of death by half. Typically, individuals only have two minutes to safely escape a house fire. Below are several Red Cross safety tips that can help families evacuate when there is a fire.
- Smoke alarms should be hard-wired to the home’s electricity with battery backups in case of an outage. These should be tested at least once a month and the batteries should be replaced once a year.
- Keep at least 3 feet between household appliances that use heat and anything that may catch fire. Make sure to turn off all candles before going to sleep or leaving the home. Do not leave matches and lighters in places where children can access them.
- Make sure children in the home know what the smoke alarm should sound like and that they know how to call 911 in case of an emergency.
- Make an evacuation plan and be sure everyone knows at least two ways to get out of every room. Establish a family meeting spot outside and a safe distance away from the home.
- Have a communication plan in place so everyone knows how to contact each other after evacuating if they cannot find each other.
- Red Cross suggests practicing escape routes at least twice a year. Parents can press the test button on fire alarms to do this.
This story was originally published March 20, 2022 at 10:08 AM.
