Just before 10 PM Wednesday, the Wayne County 911 Center received a call of a structure fire on the 100 block of Corbett Hill Road in Mount Olive. The Grantham, Smith’s Chapel and Jordan’s Chapel volunteer fire departments were dispatched to the scene. Firefighters found the residence well involved in a fire upon arrival. The firefighters began to attack the blaze as well as search for the occupant of the home. The lone occupant, 81-year-old Claro Grantham, was found inside the residence but was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives and other investigating agencies responded to the scene of the blaze. The cause of the fire has not been determined, but no suspicious or criminal activity is suspected. Other agencies assisting in the operation include:
- Wayne County Office of Emergency Services/Fire Marshall
- Wayne County Sheriff’s Office
- N.C.State Bureau of Investigation
- Office of the State Fire Marshall’s Office
- Wayne County EMS
- Wayne County 911 Center
