Three people die in unrelated fires over the past week in Lexington County

Lexington, SC 09/15/2024 (Paul Kirby) - Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher has positively identified the people who died in 3 unrelated fires in different areas of the county over the last week. One of these homes was on Lake Murray west of Lexington, another was in the Gilbert area, and the third was in the City of West Columbia.

On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, shortly after 2 am, a fire broke out at the Acapulco Campground. It burned several of the campers before firefighters could bring it under control.

Fisher said at some point that Jeffrey Morris Williamson, 50, of Blythewood, SC was located and transported to the Augusta Burn Center. He died on September 10, 2025, due to injuries he sustained in the fire.

On Saturday, September 13, 2025, at approximately 3:54 am, the City of West Columbia Fire Department, assisted by the City of Cayce and Lexington County fire equipment and personnel, responded to a house fire that occurred in the 1600 block of B Avenue in the West Columbia area. Firefighters found a person dead in this home.

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According to Coroner Fisher, Lila Ann Gunter, 65, of West Columbia, was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy is scheduled for September 17, 2025, at 8:30 AM at MUSC in Charleston.

That incident remains under investigation by the West Columbia Police Department, SLED, and the Lexington County Coroner’s Office.

The final fire occurred in the 300 block of Schofield Road in the Gilbert area of Lexington County. This incident happened on September 14, 2025, shortly after 8:00 am.

In this fire, the body of Luther Vern Price, 74, of Gilbert, was found dead. An autopsy has been scheduled for Monday, September 15, 2025.

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Lexington County Fire Service, SLED, the ATF, and the Lexington County Coroner’s Office continue to investigate the incident.

According to Coroner Fisher, Luther Vern Price, 74, of Gilbert was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy has been scheduled for today, September 15, 2025.