Husband Dies Trying to Save Wife in Winston County Fire

Selma and James Triplett

WINSTON COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) — It happened in the early morning hours.

A home in the Betheden community went up in flames.

And by the time volunteer firefighters arrived on the scene, it was too late for the couple trapped inside.

A neighbor sounded the alarm when she saw that the home of James and Selma Triplett was on fire.

It appears that 77-year-old James Triplett was able to escape the home, only to go back in to try and rescue his wife, 70-year-old Selma.

Neither made it out alive.

Home still smolders this morning

Investigators are still trying to piece the details together. A neighbor spotted the fire at about 3:50 a.m.

At this time they believe the cause of the fire was accidental.

The Tripletts’ daughter tells WCBI News that the family last checked on the couple at 11 p.m. Wednesday.

The Tripletts were well known in the Betheden community of northeastern Winston County.