Baby dead, toddler critical after incident in Anderson County

Photo by David Rogers

Anderson County Hazardous Material Team members prepare to enter a house in Williamston where a baby died on Sunday. Authorities said fumes from a fire the day before may have contributed to the death. A 2-year-old also living in the house was in critical condition at a Greenville hospital and the mother was treated at AnMed Health Medical Center.

ANDERSON COUNTY — A 10-month-old boy died after he stopped breathing at a Williamston home and authorities said the mother thinks a grease fire may be to blame.

Capt. Scott White of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office said the mother of the 10-month-old body tried to revive the child using CPR after calling authorities at 4 p.m.

A 2-year-old boy living in the home is in critical condition in Greenville Memorial Hospital after he was flown there from AnMed Health Medical Center, White said.

White said the mother reported the 10-month-old had trouble breathing ever since Saturday night when there was a grease fire in the home, located on 104 Kirsch Drive. She was checking the 10-month old when she found he was not breathing.

The mother was treated at AnMed for breathing problems, White said.

White did not know the mother’s condition. None of the victims was identified.

Chief Billy Gibson of the Anderson County Fire Department, said he does not have any information on the grease fire.

“There was no grease fire reported to the fire department,” he said. “Apparently, she extinguished it herself.”

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is conducting an investigation to try to determine what caused the death.

The Anderson County coroner’s office did not return a call seeking additional information.