In the sleepy town of Fountain Inn, South Carolina, just southeast of Greenville by some 20 miles, a humble home at 512 Main Street takes on an evening appearance plucked directly from a horror movie. Dusky glows blink through every possible window, and tendrils of whitish smoke curl out beneath the front porch, as if the building is on fire. But get closer, and the reality is revealed all part of a Halloween display designed by homeowners Sam Lee and Amanda Riggins Peden.
A tweet from X.
They closed the switch on their newest creation October 3, 2025, and operates nightly from 8 until 10 p.m. through Halloween.
“We like getting people into the spirit,”
Lee told local newswriters in an interview.
“This year’s fire theme just seemed like a fun way to amp up the spooky factor.”
Peden added,
“After five years of decorations from hearse setups to staged accidents this one feels special because it’s drawing everyone together, even if it’s causing a few mix-ups.”
The realism struck hard that first night. Neighbors, who saw the “blaze” through the street, panicked and called 911. Fountain Inn Fire Chief Russell Alexander described the fallout:
“We had three or four calls immediately, folks thinking the house was on fire.”
His department dispatched trucks each time, crews arriving to confirm no danger just clever effects powered by a professional smoke machine and strategic lighting.
“We treat every report seriously,”
Alexander emphasized.
“You can’t risk it being real.”
This isn’t the couple’s first brush with alarms. In October 2023, a prior display prompted around 30 emergency responses over the month. Lee noted,
“We always loop in the fire department ahead of time now it makes things smoother.”
Still, the calls keep coming, a testament to the setup’s lifelike quality.
Viral on social was the confusion. On Facebook, a short video clip collected more than 87,000 shares by October 7, as reactions came from all over the country. Some applauded the creativity others worried about squandered resources.
“Love the creativity, but what if a real fire’s happening elsewhere?”
One commenter penned.
Fountain Inn, with its population under 14,000, buzzes with divided opinions. Supporters flock to the free pumpkin patch the couple hosts annually, praising the display’s role in neighborhood fun.
“It’s brought smiles and stories,”
Peden said. Critics, though, call for signage to curb false alarms. One resident told Greenville Online,
“It’s impressive, but those trucks whizzing by aren’t free.”
The timing adds irony. During National Fire Prevention Week (October 5-11), the department teamed up with the American Red Cross Upstate SC Chapter to film a safety PSA right at the house, turning the “fire” into an educational tool. Alexander called it
“a perfect teachable moment.”
In Glens Falls, New York, last year, a comparable decoration lights, fans, and fog drew firefighters multiple times, highlighting how these illusions test emergency protocols. As one fire safety expert noted in a People magazine report, such trends underscore the need for creators to notify dispatch early, balancing spectacle with readiness.
