Incident # 14-06216 – At 20:30, a Ruffin (SC) man narrowly escaped his burning home Wednesday evening 22-October after he was awakened by the heat and smoke inside his residence. He attempted to extinguish the fire which he stated was above the stove before he was driven from the home. The man ran to a neighbor’s house to call 9-1-1. The caller advised she could see flames through the woods at 1627 Deliverance Road.
Colleton County Fire-Rescue Engine 18 arrived minutes later to find the cinderblock single-family dwelling over 50% involved. Firefighters used a deck gun in an attempt to stop the flames before deploying multiple handlines. The fire quickly spread to the remaining structure. Crews worked for thirty five minutes to bring the fire under control, but were on the scene for three and half hours. The house was destroyed. A tender shuttle was established to supply water for the firefighting effort. No injuries were reported in the incident. The Charleston Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting the man who lost most of his belongings in the fire.
Engine 10, Engine 15, Engine 18, Engine 31, Tender 4, Tender 7, Tender 15, Tender 18, Tender 26, Medic 18, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue