Three families were displaced following a fire in an apartment building located at 2275 Green Pond Hwy. Wednesday afternoon 10-May. At 14:28, Colleton County 9-1-1 received the first report of the incident with the caller reporting flames coming from the roof of the two-story building. Colleton County (SC) Engine 19 was in the area and arrived minutes later to find heavy smoke conditions and flames visible from the rear of the building and the roof. Firefighter-paramedics deployed three handlines and entered the building through the front doors of the two upper floor apartments. All occupants had safely exited the structure. Crews encountered heavy fire conditions on the second floor. The fire appeared to have started on the second story back porch and spread into the common attic. Heavy fire conditions were found in the attic and one upper apartment.
Crews worked for about 20 minutes to bring the fire under control, but were on the scene for four hours performing overhaul. The fire was contained to the attic and one, second story apartment. The occupants of that apartment lost all of their belongings. The other second story apartment was vacant. The lower apartments suffered smoke and water damage, but most personal items were saved. A tender shuttle was established for water supply. Sheriff’s deputies rerouted traffic on Green Pond Hwy. for several hours. The Red Cross is assisting the families.
Engine 1, Engine 19, Tender 1, Tender 6, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 1, Medic 6, Medic 19, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 27, Car 109, and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Ben Heape served as Incident Commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue