FATAL FIRE

Gaffney firefighters pulled a 54-year-old woman from her burning Brittany Road home Monday evening during a rescue attempt. Kathy Prevatte Kirby died, however, from smoke and fume inhalation. Investigators were able to pinpoint the origin of the fire. While there was no word on an exact cause, foul play was ruled out. Kirby's death was ruled an accident by the Cherokee County coroner. (Ledger photos / TIM GULLA) Neighbors in the tightly knit Canterbury neighborhood stood watch in simultaneous hope and shock late Monday as Gaffney firefighters raced to pull a woman from her burning home.

Within minutes, however, the hope would fade as the realization set in that the fire had claimed a life.

Kathy Prevatte Kirby, 54, died Monday night from smoke and fume inhalation during the fire at her 225 Brittany Road home, Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler ruled on Tuesday following an autopsy. The coroner deemed her death an accident.

Kirby, who was employed by the Cherokee County School District as a pre-school evaluator/ coordinator in the Office of Special Services, was the daughter of Coach Bob and Marie Prevatte.

Firefighters, who entered the burning structure during a search and rescue attempt, found her lying on the floor of her bedroom and immediately carried her outside, where paramedics from Upstate Carolina Medical Center attended to her.

Kirby was pronounced dead at the scene minutes later.

Gaffney Fire Chief Nathan Ellis, along with SLED fire investigators and the Gaffney Police Department, spent much of Tuesday at the scene to determine what happened.

"The scene investigation resulted in us determining a point of origin and some possible sources of ignition," Ellis said, "but the investigation is ongoing."

Ellis had not yet had a chance to discuss the investigators' conclusions with the family when interviewed Tuesday afternoon.

Ellis was able to assure, though, there were no signs of foul play. "There's nothing to indicate the fire was intentionally set and we've ruled that out," he said.

The fire began in the back portion of the home and vented out into a sun room.

KATHY KIRBY Firefighters arrived at the scene about two minutes after being dispatched and an entry for a search-andrescue mission was made six to eight minutes after dispatch, Ellis said.

Firefighters went into the home before fire suppression efforts began.

Ellis could not discuss whether Kirby's passage out of the home was blocked by fire. He said the home did appear to have a working smoke alarm.

Kirby was the only one home when the fire broke out. Her husband, Phil, was at work, according to Fowler.

Ellis confirmed that two dogs also perished.

According to the Cherokee County School District, Kirby was a 1973 graduate of Gaffney High School and attended the University of South Carolina where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1978.

She also received a M.A.T. in early childhood education from the College of Charleston in December 1991. She was employed by the Cherokee County School District since August 1998 and was previously employed in Charleston County Schools as a preschool itinerant.

"Mrs. Kirby was a very dedicated educator and highly motivated individual," Cherokee County Superintendent Dr. Bill James said in a release from the district. "She always went beyond the requirements of her duties and responsibilities as a teacher and advocate for children," he continued. "She had an outgoing personality and was always positive and upbeat. She was loved and well respected by everyone who worked with her. She was a champion for children with disabilities and was committed to providing the resources available to ensure children received the tools and materials needed to learn so they could become productive citizens."

James added, "Her impact will continue to affect children for years to come."

Ellis said firefighters were upset with the outcome.

"Obviously we hate for people to lose anything in a fire, especially a life," he said. "It's our goal that never happens."

He said events like these stick with firefighters for a long time.

"We'll be talking about this for a while, making sure everybody's doing OK," he said. "It's not the outcome we want and these guys will be thinking about it."

Ellis believed, however, "They did everything they were supposed to do in the order they were supposed to do it in."

Mrs. Kirby's obituary appears on Page 8A.