A devastating fire engulfed the waterfront residence of Circuit Court Judge Diana Goodstein and her former state senator husband on Saturday afternoon, forcing dramatic escape attempts and emergency rescues.
The blaze consumed the Edisto Beach home around midday, creating massive plumes of black smoke and requiring former state Sen. Arnold Goodstein to jump from the first floor to escape the flames. Three people were hospitalized following the incident at the three-story residence in the exclusive Jeremy Cay gated community, according to the New York Post.
Arnold Goodstein and two other occupants required rescue from a marshy, remote area behind the four-bedroom, four-bathroom home. Emergency responders used kayaks to reach the victims in the difficult terrain, according to St. Paul's Fire District officials.
Emergency workers faced challenging conditions reaching the victims who had escaped to the marshy area behind the property. Several neighbors and paramedics assisted in the rescue operation before professional emergency services arrived on scene.
The St. Paul's Fire District confirmed that kayaks were necessary to navigate the remote marshland where the escapees had taken refuge. Resident Tom Peterson witnessed the rescue efforts and provided details about the challenging evacuation process.
Capt. KC Campbell with Colleton County Fire Rescue coordinated the emergency response and transportation of victims. The remote location of the property complicated both firefighting efforts and victim evacuation procedures.
One person received air evacuation to the Medical University of South Carolina due to the severity of their injuries. The remaining two occupants were transported to the same medical facility by ground ambulance services.
Sources close to the Goodstein family confirmed that Arnold suffered multiple bone fractures in his hips, legs, and feet during his escape. The former senator required airlift transportation due to the extent of his injuries from the emergency jump.
The identities of the two additional occupants have not been released by authorities at this time. Medical officials have not provided updates on the current condition of any of the three hospitalized individuals.
Diana Goodstein, 69, was walking on the beach with her dogs when the fire consumed the family residence. The timing of her absence likely prevented additional injuries during the rapidly spreading blaze.
The judge has served continuously since her first election to the bench in May 1998 as a South Carolina native. Her long judicial career spans more than two decades on the Circuit Court.
Arnold Goodstein represented Charleston County as a Democrat in both the House and the South Carolina Senate during the 1970s. His political service preceded his later business ventures in the homebuilding industry.
The State Law Enforcement Division has launched an investigation into the cause of the fire that completely destroyed the property. Authorities have not released preliminary findings about what ignited the blaze at the waterfront home.
Arnold Goodstein previously led Summerville Homes, a significant homebuilding company that operated until 2008. The business ultimately ceased operations and filed for $61 million in bankruptcy proceedings.
The couple has two children, Arnold Samuel Goodstein II and Eve Schafer Goodstein, according to Diana's judicial biography. The family's loss of their primary residence in the exclusive gated community represents a significant personal tragedy beyond the physical injuries sustained.