Friendship fire takes deadly toll

Firefighters on the scene of Thursday’s deadly fire in the Friendship Community.

Fire late yesterday afternoon in the Friendship Community near Seneca left one person dead and a second person injured. The fatality was identified by the coroner as Charles Oglesby, 55 years old. Oglesby was found on the floor next to a burned mattress. Coroner Karl Addis said Linda Kay Christian, 46 years old, was airlifted from the scene at 215 Cox Road to the regional burn care facility. Oconee Fire Chief Charlie King said fire fighters discovered fire in the back of the mobile home and were able to stop the fire within five minutes. Investigators later determined the fire was an accident. The home had no working smoke detector or fire sprinkler. An autopsy is scheduled this afternoon. King says fire fighters will visit neighborhood homes today to ensure that each home has a working smoke detector. Addis says Oglesby’s death is the fourth Oconee fire death in 2012.