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Special to the Daily Journal/Messenger

The South Union, Fair Play, Oakway and Cross Roads fire departments responded to a barn fire at 646 Worley Road in Westminster on Wednesday evening. The homeowners were able to rescue several horses that were inside when the blaze started. No injuries were reported.

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Jessica Nelms

Janice Kleck, seated, is comforted by family and friends outside her Woodland Way home, which was destroyed by fire on Wednesday afternoon.

CLEMSON — A single-story home containing a partial basement, located on Woodland Way, was destroyed by fire on Wednesday afternoon, and fire officials say the blaze appears to be accidental.

Clemson University Fire Chief Bill Daniel said his department was first dispatched at 2:17 and that mutual aid assistance was provided by the Central and Corinth-Shiloh fire departments. When the first unit arrived five minutes later at the home, whose owner was identified as Janice Kleck, Daniel said the fire was “well involved.”

“It looked like it had been going on for awhile,” Daniel said, adding that it took more than 30 minutes to bring the fire under control.

Daniel said that Kleck, a Clemson University employee, was at work at the time of the fire and that a neighbor reported it to dispatch. However, 15 cats owned by Kleck were inside at the time and did not survive.

The cause of the fire, which Daniel said began in the center of the home, appears to be accidental.

“Nothing suspicious has been found,” he said, adding that an investigation into the fire is continuing.

The Clemson University Fire Chief said Kleck is receiving assistance from the Pickens County Red Cross Chapter and a Clemson Police Department Victims Advocate. Daniel said this marked the first Clemson fire since August when Tiger Spirits, a liquor store located on U.S. Highway 123, was destroyed.

In Oconee County, the South Union, Fair Play, Oakway and Cross Roads fire departments responded to a barn fire at 646 Worley Road in Westminster on Wednesday evening. The homeowners were able to rescue several horses that were inside when the blaze started. No injuries were reported.

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