A Colleton County family was displaced following a fire in their home Saturday afternoon 23-January at 13:28. The fire at 1496 Saxby Hill Road caused heavy damage to the doublewide mobile home. Colleton County Fire-Rescue (SC) Engine 6 arrived minutes after dispatch to find heavy fire conditions in a one room addition at the rear of the residence and fire coming from the eves on one end of the structure.
Crews deployed one 1-3/4 handline to the rear of the building and began a defensive attack. They were able to quickly knock down most of the fire in the addition. A second crew then entered the building through the front door with a 1-3/4 handline and contained the remainder of the fire to one end of the mobile home.
Firefighters had the fire under control within 20 minutes, but worked for another 45 minutes extinguishing hot spots and extensions into the attic space and crawl space. It is believed the fire originated near a wood burning stove in the addition. It spread from there into the living space of the mobile home.
Firefighters were able to stop the blaze from reaching the bedrooms on the south side of the building, but the rooms suffered smoke damage. The remainder of the interior received extensive damage. Water supply was handled with tenders. Units were on the scene for four hours.
Engine 6, Engine 22, Tender 1, Tender 2, Tender 6, Tender 12, Tender 22, Tender 25, Tender 2202, Medic 1, Medic 6, Battalion 1 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Dan Barb served as Incident Commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
By the grace of God, a 28 year-old woman miraculously survived a high speed MVC in the 6800 block of Sidneys Road Saturday morning 21-November. At 01:28 Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue units were dispatched to the vicinity after a residence called 9-1-1 advising he was awakened by a loud crash and could hear a car horn.
The accident occurred on a rural secondary road approximately nine miles north of Walterboro, SC. Firefighter-Paramedics arrived to find a single-car off of the roadway with massive damage. The Ford Contour was separated into two pieces. The female driver was conscious and still belted in the driver’s seat, the only intact place in the small car. A bystander was comforting her. Crews quickly determined she was suffering from multiple traumatic injuries and requested a medical helicopter to respond. The patient’s legs were trapped in the wreckage, but with most of the vehicle gone, crews were able to manipulate the seat to extricate the woman without the use of hydraulic tools.
A landing zone was established in a field near the intersection of Sidneys Road and Round O Road, ½ mile north of the scene. LifeNet 4 responded to the location and the patient was transferred to the flight crew without incident, then flown to the Trauma Center at the SC Medical University in Charleston.
The car had been traveling north on Sidneys Road when it left the roadway in a curve and struck a tree. The driver stated she fell asleep. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.
Engine 19, Medic 19, Rescue 1, Battalion 1, Car 109, and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Ben Heape served as Incident Commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
A singlewide mobile home suffered extensive damage in an early morning structure fire at 78 Shadow Court on Friday morning 30-October. At 03:27, 9-1-1 operators received several reports of fire coming from a residence at the end of Shadow Court, a small mobile home park located off the 1800 block of Jefferies Hwy north of Walterboro. Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue Engine 19 arrived minutes later to find the singlewide mobile home approximately 40% involved with two nearby mobile homes endangered. Firefighter-paramedics deployed two 1-3/4 handlines to the structure, initially making an exterior attack, while other crewmembers breached the front door. One handline was used to protect the exposures until the flames were diminished. They had the bulk of the fire knocked down within 10 minutes, but were on the scene performing overhaul for about 1-1/2 hours. The north end of the building was completely destroyed, while the remainder of the building received heat and smoke damage. No one was at home when the fire occurred. Water supply was conducted with the use of tenders pumping to Engine 19. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Engine 19, Engine 26, Tender 1, Tender 19, Tender 26, Medic 19, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
A large Ruffin (SC) home was destroyed in an evening fire Saturday 24-October. At 21:38, off-duty Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue Deputy Chief Greene and his family were returning from a church function, driving east on Bells Highway (SC Hwy 64), when Chief Greene saw a large fire across a field located behind the Ruffin Farm Supply. He notified Central Communications over his portable radio and began trying to locate an access to the fire. After a few minutes he determined the home was off the end of Smokey Bear Lane, a private dirt road east of Ruffin Farm Supply. The approximately 3700-square-foot home was fully-involved and the roof had already collapsed. Engine 18 arrived minutes later and deployed a deck gun and multiple 2-1/2 and 1-3/4 handlines in an effort to knock down the fire and protect two exposures, a stable containing horses and a storage building, near the residence.
Barry W. McRoy photo
Barry W. McRoy photo
A second alarm was issued shortly after arrival. A water shuttle operation was established for water supply, using a drop-tank and eight, 3000-gallon tenders. Water was obtained from a pressurized hydrant located at Bells Crossroads about ¾ mile from the scene. Engine 23 was later set up on the “B” side of the building and used its deck gun and one handline. Engine 23 was supplied through 3-inch lines from two tenders. Crews worked for 35 minutes to contain the blaze, hampered by 40-foot sheets of metal roofing which had to be removed to reach the fire underneath.
Barry W. McRoy photo
Barry W. McRoy photo
Units were on the scene for over three hours performing overhaul. The home was a total loss, but no injuries were reported. The fire appears to have started in the area of the clothes dryer. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Barry W. McRoy photo
Engine 10, Engine 18, Engine 15, Engine 23, Tender 4, Tender 7, Tender 15, Tender 17, Tender 18, Tender 23, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 13, Medic 18, Medic 26, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Deputy Chief David Greene served as Incident Commander.
A 30 year-old man lost his life in a single car accident at the intersection of Quail Drive and Academy Road Monday night 15-June at 22:36. The accident occurred north of Walterboro, SC. The vehicle had been traveling north on Quail Drive when it ran through a stop sign, crossed Academy Road and struck a pine tree. The impact dislodged the tree and caused massive damage to the small car. The driver died of multiple traumatic injuries and was trapped in the wreckage. The Coroner responded to the scene. After he completed his investigation, Colleton County (SC) Firefighter-Paramedics used Holmatro rescue tools to remove the driver’s door and extricate the man. Academy Road in the area of the accident was closed for two hours while the SC Highway Patrol conducted their investigation of the crash.
Engine 1, Rescue 1, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 12 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Scott Feather served as Incident Commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
A 41 year-old man was trapped under an over-turned tractor for nearly an hour, Saturday morning 13-June. Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue was notified of the incident at 08:26 on a path that ran through the woods off of the end of Gary Street east of Walterboro. The man had been operating a tractor with a bush hog when the unit fell into a ditch and flipped over. The driver was pinned under the tractor in about 6 inches of water. The front of the tractor miraculously landed on a culvert and by the grace of God did not crush the driver.
Barry W. McRoy photo
Barry W. McRoy photo
Barry W. McRoy photo
Heavy fire apparatus could not reach the scene so firefighter-paramedics walked about 2/10 of a mile down the path to reach the patient. Extrication equipment, including high pressure air bags and hydraulic tools were transferred to a fire department pickup truck and transported to the location. Crews stabilized the tractor with a winch and cribbing. Firefighters used hand tools to dig under the tractor in an attempt to free his legs. The steering wheel and pieces of the tractor were removed with Holmatro hydraulic cutters so the man could be slid out. The actual extrication took about 35 minutes. He was extricated with full spinal precautions, then placed in a stokes basket to be carried up the embankment. The man complained of pain to his legs and received a second degree burn from hot oil dripping on his legs. He was transported to Colleton Medical Center for further treatment. Units were on the scene for about 1-1/2 hours.
Engine 19, Medic 19, Rescue 1, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Captain Chris Jones served as Incident Commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
A local Jacksonboro restaurant was heavily damaged in an early morning structure fire Tuesday 09-June. At 02:36, Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue was dispatched to Flo’s Diner when a passerby noticed flames coming from the roof of the building. The restaurant is located at 16804 ACE Basin Parkway (US Hwy. 17) at the intersection of Hope Plantation Lane. Engine 2 arrived minutes later to find heavy fire conditions in the rear of the approx. 3000 sq. ft. establishment and fire venting from the eaves on both ends of the building. A second alarm was requested shortly after arrival. Initial crews set up a drop tank for a water shuttle operation since the rural community does not have a water system. Firefighters used a deck gun and deployed one 2-1/2 inch and two 1-3/4 inch handlines to combat the fire. Engine 2 was set up on the east side of the building. Engine 6 arrived, setting up on the west side of the business. Engine 6 also set up a drop tank, then used a deck gun and deployed two 1-3/4 inch handlines. Ladder 19 was set up in the highway directly in front of the building. Power lines running in front of the building created some operational difficulties. Engine 6 supplied Ladder 19. Three lanes of ACE Basin Parkway were blocked due to the firefighting and water shuttle operations. Sheriff’s Deputies directed traffic for six hours until the roadway could be reopened.
Barry W. McRoy photo
Barry W. McRoy photo
Barry W. McRoy photo
Barry W. McRoy photo
Barry W. McRoy photo
Barry W. McRoy photo
Barry W. McRoy photo
An initial investigation pointed to the area of an exterior HVAC unit at the rear of the business. It appeared the fire entered into the kitchen and attic space through the duct system. The business was recently remodeled. The back of the building, including the kitchen and coolers suffered heavy fire damage. The attic also suffered heavy damage. The main dining room suffered mostly smoke, water and drop down damage from the falling burning ceiling. Firefighters were able to stop the spread of the fire within 35 minutes, saving the main structure, but the interior and roof suffered extensive damage. Some important belongings, records, and computers were saved. Seven tenders shuttled water for four hours during firefighting and overhaul operations. Fire units were on the scene for 6-1/2 hours. No injuries were reported.
Engine 2, Engine 6, Tender 2, Tender 6, Tender 9, Tender 12, Tender 19, Tender 22, Tender 27, Ladder 6, Ladder 19, Squad 9, Medic 1, Medic 6, Medic 9, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 12, Car 107, Car 110 and Car 118 responded. The Commander Post was operated by Battalion Chief Scott Feather, Asst. Chief Marty Stallings and Chief McRoy.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
