GOOSE CREEK, S.C. (WCIV) — One person is dead after a house fire in Goose Creek early Tuesday morning, according to officials.

The Berkeley County Coroner's Office has identified the victim as Danial Skinner, 69, of Goose Creek.

Crews reportedly responded to the scene just after midnight, which involved a single family home off Kathryn Drive in Goose Creek.

Eight separate fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze including Goose Creek Rural, Pine Ridge, Hanahan, Caromi, Pimlico, Goose Creek City, Joint Base, Central Berkeley Fire & EMS.

“It was a significant fire when we arrived, almost half the house was involved in fire," said Chief Bob Maibach with Goose Creek Rural Fire Department.

THE LATEST: Berkeley County coroner identifies one dead in Goose Creek house fire

Chief Maibach said there's no reason to believe this was a suspicious fire or a case of arson, and that SLED is always called in to investigate when a fatality is reported.

A cause of fire was unknown Tuesday. Chief Maibach said his crews often find non-operating smoke alarms at the scene of house fires.

“These are situations that happen and every second counts, so having that alarm that functions and alerts you, even in in the middle of the night, is very important," he said. "Smoke detectors save lives."

The fire was officially reported under control just before 1:00 a.m. Tuesday.

Fire crews were called back to the scene around 7 a.m. to extinguish a small spot fire.

SLED, State Fire Marshals, the Berkeley County Coroner's Office and Berkeley County Sheriff's Office are investigating.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation has begun work on a project involving safety improvements on Red Bank Road which also includes intersection improvements at the Red Bank Road and Henry E. Brown Jr. Boulevard intersection, both in Goose Creek.

By

The Berkeley Observer

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May 15, 2025

GOOSE CREEK, S.C. – Drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians in Goose Creek can expect smoother, safer travels in the near future.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has officially kicked off a major infrastructure improvement project along Red Bank Road and Henry E. Brown Jr. Boulevard, aiming to modernize key intersections and roadways through the heart of the city.

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Work is already underway, with current efforts focused on drainage upgrades and initial road widening at the Red Bank Road and Henry E. Brown Jr. Boulevard intersection. According to Berkeley County officials, the larger project scope includes installing concrete medians, enhancing pedestrian access with new sidewalks, upgrading traffic signals, resurfacing asphalt, and improving signage along the Red Bank Road corridor.

Come fall 2025, drivers can expect to see continued progress with traffic signal installations and intersection paving at key junctions including Eagle Road, Harbor Lake Drive, and Bayshore Drive.

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The full suite of improvements is slated for completion by August 2026.

These upgrades come on the heels of Berkeley County’s recently completed Red Bank Road Gravity Sewer Project, which wrapped in April 2025. That project boosted local sewer capacity and helped prevent future overflows by installing a new gravity sewer main between Sunrise Boulevard and Henry E. Brown Jr. Boulevard.

Together, the projects mark a coordinated effort to modernize Goose Creek’s infrastructure—above and below ground—for years to come.

Goose Creek, S.C. – Will Goose Creek help do some good for the gander by displaying a pro-bird statue urging everyone to ditch cruelly-obtained down feathers? PETA thinks so! In a letter sent today to Crystal Reed, Director of Goose Creek’s Recreation, Art and Parks, PETA asks to participate in the city’s “Adopt-a-Goose” program—in which local businesses can place a customized goose statue around town—with a statue depicting a half-plucked, crying goose and a plaque reading, “My Feathers Belong to Me. Please, Don’t Wear Down.”

“Geese feel pain and fear, love their flock members, and don’t deserve to be tormented, plucked, and violently slaughtered for down,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “By embracing PETA’s message, Goose Creek could encourage residents to show compassion for birds of a feather by sticking to down-free coats, pillows, and blankets.”

PETA points out that geese are family-oriented and mate for life, mourning for long periods when their partners die. In the down industry, workers often pin down terrified geese and tear their feathers out by the fistful, plucking them so violently that many are left with gaping, bloody wounds. At the slaughterhouse, workers slit their throats—often while they’re still conscious. The down industry also helps prop up the immensely cruel foie gras industry, as producers often seek to bolster income by selling the feathers of tormented, force-fed geese.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat, wear, or abuse in any other way”—points out thatEvery Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Libby Roerig follows.

May 5, 2025

Crystal Reed

Director of Recreation, Art & Parks

City of Goose Greek

Dear Ms. Reed:

I hope this letter finds you well. On behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and our nearly 800 members and supporters in Goose Creek, I am requesting to participate in Goose Creek’s “Adopt-A-Goose” program. We hope you’ll make an exception for our goose from outside the city limits, as PETA’s statue has an important message to share.

PETA’s goose would honor Goose Creek’s namesake and inspire residents to show compassion for these loyal, intelligent birds by ditching down and letting birds keep their feathers. One side of the statue shows a happy, healthy goose living freely, while the other side reveals the cruelty that the down industry tries to keep under the covers.

In China—the world’s largest producer of down—many birds are live-plucked, their feathers yanked from their skin while they are conscious and shriek in terror. Even disingenuously named “responsible down” is a sham, as all birds used for down are exploited and ultimately slaughtered. A PETA Asia investigation revealed that geese used for Responsible Down Standard-certified feathers were beheaded with a dull axe, requiring multiple blows to kill them. Foie gras producers also exploit geese, profiting not only from stealing their feathers but also from force-feeding them and selling their diseased, fatty livers. These birds suffer at every stage of their short, miserable lives.

Birds are not stuffing for pillows and jackets or food for people who find fatty livers appetizing. They are devoted parents and lifelong partners. Even as goslings, they are skilled swimmers, and their parents are meticulous nest keepers. Their family bonds are so strong that they mourn the loss of loved ones and refuse to leave injured flock members behind. These family-oriented fowl deserve our respect and protection.

We appreciate your consideration and look forward to working together to promote a meaningful message in Goose Creek.

Sincerely,

Tracy Reiman

Executive Vice President