Due to the home’s remote location and tricky layout, rescuers had to evacuate the family from the backyard using kayaks, bringing them to Colleton County EMS for medical care.

Three people were hospitalized, including Judge Goodstein’s husband, Arnold ‘Arnie’ Goodstein, a former Democratic state senator.

According to South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge, Arnie “was in the house with children and perhaps grandchildren. The family had to escape by jumping from a window or balcony. I’m told there were injuries from the fall, such as broken legs.”

Judge Goodstein herself was on the beach when the fire broke out, authorities confirmed.

Kittredge said the blaze was caused by an “apparent explosion”, but investigators have not determined whether it was accidental or deliberate.

Blocked Trump

The fire comes shortly after Judge Goodstein blocked the Trump DOJ from obtaining personal information for over 3.3 million South Carolina voters, including names, addresses, birthdates, driver’s license numbers, and the last four digits of Social Security numbers.

The DOJ had planned to cross-reference the data with a Department of Homeland Security database to check if any registered voters might be ineligible.