Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue units were sent to 304 Carolina Circle north of Walterboro, Wednesday morning 16-November at 03:02. Engine 19 arrived to find a single-story residential dwelling with flames visible from the roof. All occupants had safely exited the structure. Firefighter-Paramedics deployed multiple handlines to combat the fire which was burning throughout the attic. Crews pulled the ceilings in several rooms to reach the flames. It appeared the fire originated in the chimney and spread to the attic. The electrical service line burned through and fell from the home. When the power went off, the occupants were awakened and discovered the fire which had already burned through a portion of the roof and they alerted 9-1-1.
Firefighters worked for about 20 minutes to bring the fire under control, but were on the scene for three hours. Most of the fire damage was contained to the attic and roof, however the remainder of the home suffered water and smoke damage. Many personal items were saved. Water supply was handled with Tenders.
Engine 19, Engine 26, Tender 1, Tender 5, Tender 19, Tender 26, Medic 1, Medic 19, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 12, Car 107, Car 110 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Scott O’Quinn served as Incident Commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
Two adults were severely injured and three children were transported following a single-vehicle, high speed MVC in the 400 block of Bent Gate Lane Friday evening 15-July. At approximately 19:00, an eastbound car lost control on the rural dirt road, crossed a ditch and began to flip over. The car struck a large pine tree roof first, causing extensive damage to the Ford Escape. The roof over the front seats was pushed almost to the floor trapping both front seat occupants. Three children in the back seat were able to crawl out of the damaged car.
Barry W. McRoy photo
Colleton County (SC) Firefighter-Paramedics arrived to find the three children ambulatory at the scene. The two adults were heavily entrapped in the wreckage. Their legs were pinned under the dash, while their upper bodies had been pushed in the back seats after breaking the backs of the front seats. It was miraculous that they survived the collision.
Crews stabilized the vehicle and began treating both patients inside the damaged car. IVs and pain management were administered. Due to an extended extrication, two medical helicopters were requested and landed in a field off of the 6800 block of Sunrise Road near Fire Station 17, approximately one mile from the scene. Engine 7 coordinated the landing zone. Crews treated the three children for non-life threatening traumatic injuries. Holmatro Rescue tools were utilized to remove the roof, however saws and a mini cutter had to be used near the patients on the passenger side due to the crushed vehicle collapsing in on the patients.
Barry W. McRoy photo
Cribbing was inserted between the roof, “A” & “B” posts and doors to prevent the metal from pressing in on the patients. The first patient was extricated after 38 minutes. Firefighters had to displace the dash to free the second patient’s legs. The second patient was extricated in 63 minutes. Both were transported by Fire-Rescue ambulance to the landing zone, then flown by LifeNet 3 and LifeNet 4 to the trauma center at MUSC in Charleston. The children were transported by Fire-Rescue Medic 18 to Colleton Medical Center in Walterboro and released later in the evening. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
Barry W. McRoy photo
Barry W. McRoy photo
Engine 7, Engine 17. Engine 26, Rescue 1, Medic 18, Medic 26, Battalion 1, and Car 12 responded. Battalion Chief Scott O’Quinn served as Incident Commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
