Senator suggests arson caused motel fire

A state legislator told his Senate colleagues Thursday that Greenville's Comfort Inn fire was intentionally set, but later in the day he backed off his statement, saying he could not get confirmation that it was true.

Sen. David Thomas, R-Greenville, told the S.C. Senate that someone had poured gasoline around a stairwell door at the Comfort Inn on Congaree Road. A fire there early Sunday left six people dead and sent others to the hospital.

Thomas said his information came from what he considers to be "a very good source" that is not part of the investigation team.

Investigators say nothing yet has been determined, and they don't know who Thomas' source is.

"I don't know where he got that information," said Wade Hampton Fire Department Chief Gary Downey, who said the fire started in a third-floor hallway.

Downey said that when he left Greenville County's forensic lab at 10 a.m. Thursday, test results were not yet complete, and investigators were still conducting interviews.

The Greenville County Sheriff's Office, the lead agency in the investigation, also would not confirm what started the fire.

"The Sheriff's Office position is that we haven't released the results of any tests," said Sgt. Shea Smith, Greenville County Sheriff's Office spokesman.

Smith said he expects investigation results will be released today.

Late Thursday afternoon, Thomas confirmed he did make the remarks to the S.C. Senate, but he distanced himself from the remarks because he had been unable to confirm them with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office.

"If I had to do it again, that's not the path I would take," Thomas said.

"I'm not trying to get into a battle of authorities."

Thomas said the arson remarks were made as an "aside" during a speech urging legislators to improve hotel and school safety.

He said he told the Senate of his plans to introduce legislation that would require hotels without sprinkler systems to post signs informing guests of this fact.

The Comfort Inn did not have sprinklers, but it was not required by law to have them.

He also favors providing financial incentives through insurers to encourage hotels and schools to retrofit their facilities with sprinkler systems.

"Seventy percent of what I said to the Senate was, 'What are we going to do about this problem?' " Thomas said.

Susan Orr can be reached at 877-3225, 574-5980 or susan.orr@shj.com.

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