A quiet October morning on Edisto Beach turned into a scene of chaos when a fire broke out at the marshfront home of South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein. The blaze erupted on October 4, 2025, engulfing the three-story residence and prompting a swift response from emergency crews and neighbors. Judge Goodstein was walking her dogs when the fire started, while her husband, former state senator Arnold Goodstein, and other family members were inside. To escape the flames, Arnold leapt from the home into nearby marshland, sustaining multiple injuries in the process.
Neighbors played a crucial role in the rescue. Using a canoe and ropes, they helped pull Arnold from the wetlands as emergency responders worked to reach the property. In total, three people were hospitalized due to the incident, with Arnold airlifted to the Medical University of South Carolina for treatment of serious injuries. As of early October, investigators from the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) had not determined the cause of the fire, and authorities had not ruled out any possibilities.
The fire occurred just weeks after Judge Goodstein made headlines for issuing a temporary restraining order to prevent the release of voter registration data to the U.S. Department of Justice. Although officials have not linked the fire to her.