A tight-knit Newberry County community is reeling after a devastating house fire early Friday morning claimed the lives of two long-time Silverstreet residents. Just after 6:30 a.m., emergency dispatchers received alarmed calls reporting a home on Windsong Hill Drive fully engulfed in flames. Multiple fire departments and law enforcement agencies raced to the scene, but the ferocity of the blaze made the initial rescue attempt nearly impossible.
When firefighters arrived, they found the structure about 80% consumed by fire — advancing so rapidly that no one could safely enter. The crews worked tirelessly to get the inferno under control, but only after the flames were quelled did they make the heartbreaking discovery: two bodies inside.
Coroner Laura Kneece later identified the victims as 44-year-old April Nicole Sutton Long and 73-year-old Leroy Seegers, both longtime residents of the Silverstreet area. The loss has struck deeply — not just within their families, but across the whole county.
Silverstreet Fire Chief Michael Parker described the scene as “heartbreaking,” noting how emotionally taxing it was not only for the families but also for the first responders who were met with such overwhelming conditions. On top of that, officials confirmed that two other people who lived in the home were thankfully away at the time of the fire and survived without injury.
State and local investigators are now working to piece together exactly what happened. The Newberry County Fire Department, the Sheriff’s Office, the South Carolina State Fire Marshal’s Office, and SLED are all involved in the investigation. They plan to analyze structural damage, interview witnesses, and review findings from upcoming autopsies — which have been requested by the coroner’s office.
As the community grapples with the tragedy, neighbors have rallied together. Friends and family have shared memories of April and Leroy — remembering April for her warmth, and Leroy for the quiet strength he brought to his community. Prayers, hugs, and support have poured in as people struggle to find meaning in such a sudden loss.
In the wake of this devastating event, the people of Newberry County are united in grief — but also in resolve. While their hearts ache, they are committed to seeking answers, supporting the surviving residents, and honoring the lives of April Nicole Sutton Long and Leroy Seegers, whose absence will be felt deeply across Silverstreet.
