A woman in her 60s died early Thursday in a fire at her rowhome in the Ogontz section of Philadelphia, with the fire causing structural damage and the cause still under investigation.
Authorities have found no evidence so far that the fire at Judge Diane Goodstein's home on Edisto Island was arson, as they continue to investigate the cause of the blaze that injured three people and nearly destroyed the house, with no signs of intentional setting or pre-fire explosion.
A SWAT standoff in Upland, California, ended after the suspect's home caught fire and burned down. The standoff began when authorities attempted to serve a search warrant and the suspect fired at deputies. After several hours, tear gas was deployed, and the suspect set off explosives inside the home. The suspect eventually walked out of the burning home and was shot by authorities. Multiple sources have reported that the suspect is dead.
A massive snake caused an electrical shortage that led to a fire at a home in Georgia. Firefighters discovered a small fire in the subflooring and determined that the snake had entered the house through a hole in the floor under the oven, where it shorted out the wires. The snake was found dead and removed from the home.
Improperly disposed fireworks caused a fire at a home in Palm Coast, Florida, on the Fourth of July, engulfing the garage and multiple vehicles in flames. No injuries were reported, but the home suffered smoke and water damage. Officials advise submerging fireworks in water for at least two hours before disposal and placing them in a tied garbage bag for collection.
Discarded fireworks ignited and caused significant damage to a home in Johnston County, North Carolina. Fortunately, all six occupants were able to escape safely. The Selma Fire Department reported that 50 percent of the home was damaged and deemed uninhabitable. The fireworks were not intentionally ignited but had been discarded.
A juvenile died and seven others, including five Montgomery firefighters, were injured in a fire that occurred in a single-story home in Montgomery, Alabama. Three people were rescued from the home, and the cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office.