Seven college students died Sunday in an early morning fire in a North Carolina beach house.

By the time firefighters arrived at the house in Ocean Isle Beach, the fire had spread throughout the building, WHQR Radio in Wilmington reported. Six people managed to get out with no more than minor injuries.

All the occupants were students from South Carolina -- 12 from the state university in Columbia and one from Clemson University. Dennis Pruitt, vice president for student affairs at the University of South Carolina, said the USC students all belonged to the Delta Delta Delta sorority or the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Neighbors said the occupants appeared to be asleep when the fire broke out at around 7 a.m, WRAL in Raleigh reported. As the flames spread through the three-story house, which was built on stilts, they could hear calls for help.

Jeff Newsome said he encouraged one man to jump through a window, saving himself.

"The noise stopped, which is horrible," Newsome said.

Randy Thompson, emergency manager for Brunswick County, said the house was gutted by the fire, with parts of it having to be propped up so investigators could work safely. He said representatives from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were on the scene, along with investigators for state and local agencies.

Ocean Isle Beach is just north of the South Carolina border.  // Copyright 2007 by United Press International



Publication date: 29 October 2007   

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