Coroner identifies man who died in fire on Folly Beach

Authorities have identified a 43-year-old man who died in a blaze overnight in a Folly Beach apartment that left one person dead.

Thomas Thiel died from smoke inhalation, Charleston County Deputy Coroner Brittney Martin said.

Officials are saying very little about what caused the fire at 81 Center St.

Firefighters responded to the blaze overnight. It was extinguished very quickly, according to Folly Beach Public Safety Sgt. Kevin Berkel.

The body of one person was found. No one else was injured, he said.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division agents were on scene investigating Friday morning, according to Berkel.

“We were requested by the local agency. This is not unusual in the case of a fatality in a fire,” said SLED spokesman Thom Berry.

Officials on scene said they were still in the very preliminary stage of the investigation.

The building where the fire occurred contains two apartment units. It’s next to the store Flipper Finders. Store owner Richard Brendel said he got a phone call at around 7 a.m. about the fire. “My heart and condolences go out to the family,” he said.

Check back on the postandcourier.com for updates.

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