Chimney Sweep Near Me Edisto Beach, SC

Judge Diane Goodstein beach side home in Edisto Beach, South Carolina set on fire as a probe is to now investigate if the blaze was intentional and the result of foul play? Judge has received multiple death threats over the years.

authorities have launched a probe after a state Circuit Court judge’s beachfront home burned to the ground over the weekend.

Judge Diane Goodstein’s Edisto Beach family home burned to the ground Saturday morning, sending three of her family members, including her retired senator husband, Arnold Goodstein to hospital.

While Goodstein wasn’t at home at the time of the fire, sources told , multiple members of her family were at the home.

Goodstein’s four-bedroom, three story, $1,155,200 residence was set ablaze at around 11.30am. Law enforcement were investigating the cause of the fire.

The blaze is believed to have resulted from an ‘apparent explosion.’

Explained South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge, ‘Judge Goodstein was walking on the beach when the fire started. Her husband, 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.’

‘Arnie’s injuries may have been the most serious, for he was airlifted to the hospital,’ Kittredge added.

Goodstein’s husband sustained multiple broken bones in his hips, legs and feet following the fall according to FITSNews.

Another of those hospitalized is said to be Goodstein’s son, Arnold Goodstein II.

The blaze comes after Goodstein allegedly receiving death threats in the past few weeks, sources told FITSNews.

‘She’s had multiple death threats over the years,’ one judge close to Goodstein told the outlet.

Just last month, she was involved in a controversial case in determining if voter’s personal information in South Carolina could be handed over to the government.

The order Goodstein passed in the matter was eventually overturned by the Supreme Court with the top court’s verdict criticizing her.

Authorities have yet to say whether they suspect being involved.

A South Carolina judge's beautiful beachfront home was burned to the ground on Saturday morning, sending three of her family members to hospital.

Police have launched an investigation after the home of Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein, 69, roared in flames on Edisto Beach as her family, including her ex-senator husband Arnold Goodstein, was rushed to hospital.

Goodstein's four-bedroom, four bath $1,155,200 home stretching up three stories went up in smoke at around 11.30am yesterday. Law enforcement are probing the cause of the devastating fire.

Local resident, Robby Borden, managed to capture the huge fire from his drone.

Smoke was seen billowing from the structure on the video, as the fire roared throughout all three stories of the home.

While Goodstein wasn't at home at the time of the fire, sources told FITSNews, multiple members of her family were at the home.

South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge said in a message to the outlet that the fire resulted from an 'apparent explosion.'

'Judge Goodstein was walking on the beach when the fire started. Her husband, 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,' he said.

Of the three family members rushed to hospital, one was Goodstein's husband Arnold - who reportedly leaped from the burning building after helping other family members escape.

'Arnie’s injuries may have been the most serious, for he was airlifted to the hospital,' Kittredge added.

Goodstein's husband sustained multiple broken bones in his hips, legs and feet following the fall, the outlet reported.

Another of those hospitalized is said to be Goodstein's son, Arnold Goodstein II.

Their current condition remains unclear.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is currently investigating the fire, a spokesperson confirmed to the outlet.

Kittredge said SLED chief Mark Keel 'said he will stay in touch and let us know if there is any evidence of arson.'

'At this time, we do not know whether the fire was accidental or arson. Until that determination is made, Chief Keel has alerted local law enforcement to provide extra patrols and security,' he added.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Goodstein's office for comment.

Goodstein had reportedly been receiving death threats in the past few weeks, sources told FITSNews.

'She's had multiple death threats over the years,' one judge close to Goodstein told the outlet.

Just last month, she was involved in a controversial case in determining if voter's personal information in South Carolina could be handed over to the government.

Goodstein issued a temporary restraining order in early September, stemming from a lawsuit challenging whether the South Carolina Election Commission can give voters’ data to the Department of Justice, The Gazette reported.

However, the order was later overturned after a six-page opinion from the Supreme Court took issue with Goodstein's process in barring the state from complying.

Goodstein was criticized by the Supreme Court's order, signed by all five justices, for failing to detail what kind of damage would be caused in the release of the personal information of voters.

Specifically, the information of Calhoun County voter Anne Crook, who filed the suit to fight the release of her information to the federal government.

Goodstein was also said to have failed to explain whether she believed the lawsuit was likely to succeed, which is required for a court to intervene, the order obtained by the Gazette said.

The circuit court judge also told the Election Commission not to comply with the request for voter information before they had received notice of the lawsuit, which the court said was a violation.

EDISTO ISLAND, S.C. —

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division says there is currently no evidence to support that the fire at the home of a circuit court judge was intentionally set.

On Saturday afternoon, the St. Paul's Fire District received reports of a fire with entrapment at a home in a gated area off Planters Retreat in Jeremy Cay on Edisto Island.

SPFD responded to assist the Edisto Beach Fire Department in extinguishing the fire and looking for occupants.

Fire officials said the area is located on a barrier island with significant challenges such as limited water supply and tight areas.

According to officials, the occupants escaped the home by jumping from an elevated first floor. The occupants had to be rescued from the backyard using kayaks.

Three people were taken to the Medical University of South Carolina: One was airlifted and the other two were taken by ambulance. The current condition of the victims are unknown.

The Supreme Court of South Carolina later confirmed that the home was linked to Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein.

On Monday afternoon, SLED Chief Mark Keel released a statement about the fire saying:

“At this time, there is no evidence to indicate the fire was intentionally set.

SLED Agents have preliminarily found there is no evidence to support a pre-fire explosion.

The investigation into the fire is still active and ongoing.

Upon the conclusion of the investigation, SLED will issue a follow up statement with additional information.

I urge our citizens, elected officials, and members of the press to exercise good judgement and not share information that has not been verified.”

A fire engulfed the Edisto Beach home of South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein on Saturday, sending three people to the hospital and triggering an ongoing investigation by state authorities.

Three people were hospitalized for their injuries, including one who was airlifted to the Medical University of South Carolina, Colleton County Fire Rescue Captain K.C. Campbell told The Post and Courier. The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating the incident, according to the outlet.

Why It Matters

The fire drew national attention at a time of heightened concerns for the security of judges amid a rise in threats and political violence. The U.S. Marshals Service has recorded 562 threats to federal judges this fiscal year as of September 30. The Marshals Service recorded 509 total threats in the 2024 fiscal year.

Last month, Goodstein ruled to temporarily block South Carolina from handing over millions of voters’ personal data to the Trump administration. The ruling was later reversed by the state’s Supreme Court.

What To Know

The fire broke out around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday at Judge Goodstein’s three-story beachfront house in Edisto Beach, FITSNews reported. Arnold Goodstein and the couple’s son were both hospitalized with serious injuries, according to the news station.

A neighbor told The Post and Courier that Arnold Goodstein leapt from the home to escape.

State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel had instructed local law enforcement to provide additional patrols and security, according to a message by Chief Justice John Kittredge obtained by FITSNews.

Who Is Judge Diane Goodstein?

Judge Goodstein has served on South Carolina’s First Judicial Circuit Court since 1998. She was elected by the South Carolina General Assembly and is serving a term that will extend through 2028, following her reelections in 2016 and 2022.

Prior to her judicial tenure, Goodstein served as Dorchester County Attorney and was a partner in the Goodstein & Goodstein law firm.

What People Are Saying

Judge Diane Goodstein told the Daily Mail following the fire: “I am alright.”

South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge, in a message obtained by FITSNews: “At this time, we do not know whether the fire was accidental or arson. Until that determination is made, SLED chief Mark Keel has alerted local law enforcement to provide extra patrols and security.”

What Happens Next

The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating the incident, according to The Post and Courier.

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South Carolina authorities on Monday said there was no evidence to suggest that the fire that destroyed the million-dollar waterfront mansion belonging to a state judge was deliberately set.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel announced that the blaze that burned Judge Goodstein’s Edisto home didn't appear to be intentionally set.

"I echo Chief Keel’s call for everyone to exercise good judgment and avoid sharing unverified information while the investigation continues," Gov. Henry McMaster wrote on X.

Images and aerial videos show flames and black smoke billowing out of the home, which is on an exclusive island in Colleton County.

While authorities did not immediately release the homeowners' names, the Post and Courier identified them as Circuit Court Judge Diane Schafer Goodstein, 69, and her husband, Arnold Goodstein, 81, a former member of both houses of the state legislature.

He once served as the commissioner of the South Carolina Department of Transportation and before that was wounded in the Tet offensive in the Vietnam War. He received a Bronze Star for heroism in action, twice, according to his state legislature bio.

Three people were hurt. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation by law enforcement.

Judge Goodstein reportedly told the Daily Mail Monday that she is "all right," before deferring further comment to the court administrator.

She has been a judge since 1998, according to her online bio. Last month, she ruled against the Justice Department in a dispute over voter data with the South Carolina elections commission, but she was later overruled by a higher court.

WATCH: Aerial footage shows judge's waterfront mansion in flames

Firefighters from St. Paul Fire District assisted the Edisto Beach Fire Department extinguishing the blaze on Edisto Island, a waterfront community about an hour's drive southwest of Charleston.

"This area is located on a barrier island with significant challenges such as limited water supply and tight areas," St. Paul officials said in a Facebook post. As a result, first responders used kayaks to rescue the occupants from their backyard as the house went up in flames.

Arnold Goodstein suffered injuries after jumping out of a window facing the backyard to escape the flames, the Post and Courier reported. The judge was walking their dogs at the time.

Three people were reportedly injured in the blaze. The couple have two adult children.

Authorities released a photo showing the towering waterfront home dwarfed by flames and clouds of black smoke.

A spokesperson for the State Law Enforcement Division, confirmed that state investigators were looking into the cause of the blaze.

"The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating a house fire that occurred on Saturday, October 4, 2025, in Colleton County," Renée Wunderlich, the agency's director of public information, told Fox News Digital. "SLED’s investigation is active and ongoing. More information may be available as the case continues."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.