JONESVILLE — A fire that destroyed a house in the Magnolia Plantation Subdivision on Sunday is being investigated by the SLED Arson Team in cooperation with the Union County Sheriff’s Office.
Jonesville Fire Chief Jimmy Wilkins said firefighters were dispatched to 152 Magnolia Pines shortly before noon. Wilkins said when firefighters arrived on scene they found the approximately 6,000 square-foot structure fully engulfed. He said the fire departments of Jonesville, Bonham, Kelly-Kelton and Pacolet along with firefighters from Philippi spent more than six hours battling the blaze but were unable to save the house. Wilkins estimated the damage to the building at approximately $400,000. He said the cause of the blaze is unknown.
Sheriff David Taylor said this morning at present time the fire is not considered suspicious in origin. However, given the cause could not be determined the decision was made to call in the SLED Arson Team. He said the team will assist sheriff’s office investigators in determining the cause of the blaze.
No one was home at the time of the fire. The house is owned by Howard Gibson. Taylor said Gibson and his family are currently staying at a house they own in the Monarch area.
Wilkins said there was only one injury — a firefighter who had to be taken to Wallace Thomson Hospital to be treated for dehydration. He was treated and released Sunday.
The call reporting the fire was initially received by Spartanburg County 911 which forwarded it to Union County. Wilkins said he believes the person making the call used a cell phone and given the house’s location northwest of Jonesville the signal was bounced to Spartanburg rather than Union.