911: This ‘Burning House’ Halloween Decoration Is Fooling Neighbors and Firefighters Alike
Daniel Jordan 
South Carolina Couple’s “Burning House” Halloween Display Sparks 911 Calls — Again
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — A South Carolina couple known for their jaw-dropping Halloween displays is once again turning heads — and triggering alarm bells.
Amanda Peden and her fiancé, Sam Lee, have become local celebrities in Fountain Inn for their realistic holiday decorations. This year’s setup looks like a fully engulfed house fire, complete with lights, smoke, and eerie sound effects. The couple says it’s all special effects — but not everyone is in on the trick.
As reported by The TODAY Show, the fake inferno has drawn crowds of spectators and a wave of calls to emergency dispatchers. “Most people appreciate it, but you’ve got the one percent who are never happy with anything,” Lee said. Peden added, “There’s always going to be someone who doesn’t like it.”
The couple even posted a Facebook warning that read: “Our house will be on fire (not real fire) as Halloween decorations every night from 8-10 PM between now and October 31. Please do not call the fire department again!”
Fountain Inn Fire Chief Russell Alexander told TODAY that his department still responds to every report. “It’s bad practice to not send a truck,” he said. “If we get a call, we’re sending a truck, no matter what.” He confirmed that the department is in direct contact with the couple and that the community is mostly aware of the ongoing display.
Lee, a former mayor of Fountain Inn, says the couple has embraced their Halloween fame. Their past displays have included a car crash scene with a 12-foot skeleton, a mock airplane crash with parachuting skeletons, and even red balloons tied to sewer drains in a nod to the movie It.
When their “burning” home lights up each night, Lee and Peden sit comfortably inside watching TV — all while their teenage son enjoys seeing their house trend on TikTok.
“It’s a small way to give back to our community,” Lee said, noting that their annual pumpkin patch gives away more than 2,000 pumpkins to local families.
Firefighters say the display might look dramatic, but there’s no real danger — just a couple keeping the Halloween spirit alive in a very big way.
