RV fire claims one life on Thanksgiving

A fire which fully involved multiple structures at Nichols Campground on Thanksgiving claimed the life of one individual.

According to the report from the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to a fire at Nichols Campground with a possible entrapped person on Nov. 22.

A third camper trailer was beginning to ignite along with a bathhouse and two vehicles.

Deputies met with Thomas Butcher who told law enforcement that he and his wife, Betty Butcher, were inside their camper when they heard a loud, “boom” and noticed the camper beginning to fill with black smoke.

He stated that he went to exit out the front door and the last he saw of his wife was her attempting to exit out the back door. Betty never made it out of the camper according to the report.

Multiple propane bottles along with power poles were all on fire surrounding the camper which made it impassable until Rabun County Fire Services arrived on scene and extrguished the flames.

As a result of the fire, Betty Butcher perished and the coroner as well as the state fire marshal’s department was called to the scene.

WRBN/WGHC has reached out to Rabun County Fire Services and the State Fire Marshall’s office for comment and further details, but as of Tuesday afternoon, no contact has been made.