Person dies, officer hospitalized after early-morning Waxhaw house fire

WAXHAW, N.C. (WBTV) - A 61-year-old has died after a house fire on Sunday, Nov. 8.

Waxhaw Fire Department got the call for a fire on the 600 block of Howie Mine Road at 4:23 a.m.

First responders were notified a person may be trapped inside the building.

Crews found a person inside the home and removed them from the building at 4:29 a.m. Kenneth Robinson was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Another person in the home was able to escape without injuries.

“We extend our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this tragedy,” the Waxhaw Fire Department wrote in a news release.

A Waxhaw police officer who attempted to go inside before fire crews arrived was also taken to a hospital. A spokesperson for the town of Waxhaw tells WBTV he was evaluated for smoke inhalation as a precaution and was released Saturday morning. They said he is doing OK.

The Union County Fire Marshal’s Office determined a space heater caused the fire.

“As temperatures drop and families begin using supplemental heating sources, we urge everyone to keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn and make sure their homes have working smoke alarms,” Union County Fire Marshal Jon Williams said.

Investigators found there was no working smoke alarm in the home.

The fire marshal office provides free smoke alarms to people living in the county. More information can be found here.