By BOB HIGH
Staff Writer

A living-room floor lamp placed near the rear of an upholstered chair caused a fire here shortly after 11 p.m. Dec. 23 and the lone resident of a trailer died of smoke inhalation.

Gregory Lee Elkins, 40, who had moved to the Eastover Trailer Park along East Walter Street about three weeks ago, was found by Whiteville firefighters in the front bedroom of the old rental single-wide trailer.

Elkins’ death is the first fire death in Columbus County in almost 18 months. Travis Jerome Todd of Whiteville died July 1, 2005 from burns in a June 30 fire at his home along West Virgil Street.

Fire Chief John Cook said it was first believed an electric heater ignited the upholstered chair. Cook said investigation during daylight hours of Christmas Eve showed the fire probably started from the light bulb of the floor lamp being too close to the chair.

Tony Ward, a neighbor of Elkins, tried to douse the fire with a water hose while a family member notified 9-1-1, according to Sgt. Andre Jackson’s police report.

Police there first

Jackson noted in his report that Police Officers Michael Fowler and David Windom arrived before firemen and they went to the rear door on the south side of the structure, but were unable to get in.

The officers then tried the front door on the north side that opened into the living room, but smoke and heat forced them back.

Cook said Elkins was not burned. He had apparently left his rear-bedroom bed to investigate smoke and had been overcome before he could get out of the trailer.

Elkins, who formerly lived in the Clarkton area, had a pharmacist degree. He had been a clerk at the two Sam’s Pit Stop convenience stores in Whiteville in recent months. (See Obituary page in the printed edition)