A house fire is devastating under any circumstances, but this one involved a well-known public figure. Over the weekend, Judge Diane Goodstein’s $1.5 million oceanfront home in Edisto Beach, South Carolina, was destroyed after it erupted in flames.

Fire crews from St. Paul’s Fire District arrived on October 4 and “worked flawlessly together to ensure the safety of the occupants.” Everyone escaped by jumping from an elevated first floor as video showed flames and thick smoke engulfing the property.

Because of the home’s location, rescuers used kayaks to ferry family members from the backyard to waiting paramedics. Three people were hospitalized, including Judge Goodstein’s husband, former Democratic state senator Arnold “Arnie” Goodstein.

South Carolina Chief Justice John Kittredge said Arnie had been inside with children and possibly grandchildren. Some relatives suffered broken bones after jumping from windows or balconies. Judge Goodstein herself was on the beach when the fire began. Kittredge noted reports of an “apparent explosion,” though investigators have not determined a cause.

The timing drew attention because weeks earlier, Judge Goodstein issued a temporary restraining order blocking the U.S. Department of Justice from accessing personal data on more than 3.3 million South Carolina voters. The order, issued in a privacy lawsuit, warned that releasing the data could cause “immediate and irreparable damage.”

A fellow judge told reporters that Goodstein had received multiple death threats over the years. State authorities are treating the blaze as an active investigation, with SLED confirming that more details will be released as inquiries continue.

The incident has also reignited debate over threats faced by judges involved in politically sensitive cases. Lawmakers exchanged accusations on social media about political violence and harassment.

For now, investigators remain focused on the cause of the blaze—a tragedy that has become both a personal loss and a national flashpoint.