19/June/2023 – Structure Fire with Injuries – “A” & “B” Shifts
A Green Pond Community (SC) home was destroyed and the occupant was injured in an early morning fire at 495 Weiss Lane Monday morning 19-June at 05:51. The adult male occupant advised he was awakened by the sound of breaking glass and discovered the older, two-story wooden structure was on fire. The man was barely able to exit the burning home. The house was well-involved but he attempted to reenter the residence to rescue his 28-year-old speaking parrot. The flames and smoke prevented him from reaching the bird and the man suffered smoke inhalation and second degree burns. The parrot perished in the fire.
He then ran 1/2 of a mile down Weiss Lane to the Balchem Plant to ask for assistance and called 9-1-1 at 05:51. Colleton County Engine 6 and Medic 6 arrived minutes later to find the two-story, wood-frame dwelling fully-involved. Firefighter-Paramedics deployed two 2-1/2″ handlines and two 1-3/4″ handlines to the building. The structure collapsed shortly after fire department units arrived.
Engine 6 requested a second alarm and directed Engine 9 to setup a water supply point by the boat landing at Joe’s Fish Camp at the nearby Ashepoo River. A tender shuttle was established for water supply using eight tenders shuttling water for several hours. Saint Paul’s Fire Department sent an engine and tender as automatic aid. Due to limited access to the home on the single-lane dirt road, a staging area was set up for tenders near Balchem.
The occupant, who was covered in ash and soot complained of difficulty breathing. He was treated at the scene by firefighter-paramedics, then transported to Colleton Medical Center in Fire-Rescue Medic 6. He suffered airway burns and was treated at CMC with advanced airway care. No helicopters could fly due to severe thunderstorms in the area. Fire-Rescue Medic 1 responded to the ED at CMC and with the CARE Flight Flightcrew, transported the man emergent to the Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta Georgia two hours away. He was in critical condition. The home was completely destroyed and the man lost all of his belongings. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Engine 6, Engine 2, Engine 9, Tender 1, Tender 2, Tender 6, Tender 9, Tender 13, Tender 22, Tender 27, Medic 1, Medic 6, Medic 9, Medic 13, Battalion 1, Car 111, and Car 118 responded. St Pauls FD responded an engine and tender. Battalion Chief Scott O’Quinn served as Incident Commander.
Barry W. McRoy
Fire Chief
Colleton County Fire-Rescue
