Woman, Pets Killed In Camper Fire
By The Packet
On Monday morning, May 22, shortly before 6:00 am, a camper fire occurred on Lincoln Road, across the street from Walmart. Once the fire was extinguished, the body of a deceased individual was discovered in front of the camper, along with two pets. Columbus Public Information Officer Joe Dillon confirmed that the State of Mississippi Fire Marshal’s office arrived in Columbus to investigate the death of the local resident who was living in the RV trailer. Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant has not released the victim’s identity pending notification of next of kin. The victim’s body has been transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Pearl, MS, for further examination.
The incident took place at the RV lots located at 136 Lincoln Road, near the Walmart Garden Center. Neighbors dialed 911 at approximately 5:00 am after hearing sounds of the fire. Columbus Fire and Rescue Chief Duane Hughes stated that the RV was engulfed in flames upon the fire department’s arrival. “We are currently conducting an investigation, but when we arrived, we observed flames above the fence separating the road and the RV. We were able to swiftly suppress the fire, but unfortunately, the resident had already perished,” Chief Hughes added.
Following Columbus Fire & Rescue policy, immediate notification was made to the State Fire Marshal’s office. Chief Hughes stated, “Once we extinguished the fire and ensured the area’s safety, we secured the premises until the Fire Marshal’s office arrived. The investigation is still ongoing.”
