A Morris Circle home received substantial damage in a mid-day fire Monday 26-March. At 11:51, 9-1-1 operators began receiving multiple reports of a fire in the residence located at 136 Morris Circle south of Walterboro. Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue Engine 1 arrived minutes later to find the one-story structure with heavy smoke visible. Flames were coming from the roof and out of several windows on both sides of the building. A second mobile home, located approximately 20 feet away was endangered. Firefighters deployed multiple handlines to the building and protected the exposure. The structure was originally a wooden home that over the years had received several additions. At some point a singlewide mobile home was connected to the structure. Additional siding wrapped both structures and a second roof was added over the existing roofs. This presented problems for crews working to extinguish the fire. Firefighter-paramedics worked for about 35 minutes to gain control of the fire. Power tools and a K-12 circular saw were used to remove the front of the structure, the rear wall, and a portion of the side wall to allow firefighters access to the burning areas and some void spaces. Once the fire was knocked down, crews spent over four hours performing overhaul. No one was at home when the fire occurred. The occupant advised there was a wood burning stove inside the residence and a kerosene heater. The entire structure was gutted. The fire displaced a woman and seven children. The Red Cross is assisting the family. Water supply was handled with a water shuttle with tenders pumping directly to Engine 1. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Engine 1, Engine 26, Tender 1, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Rescue 1, Medic 1, Medic 9, Medic 19, Battalion 1, Car 107, Car 112 and Car 116 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Harold Buzzell photo
Harold Buzzell photo
Harold Buzzell photo