Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue

All posts tagged Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue

At 18:54 on 12/12/19, a passerby reported to 9-1-1 that a building on the property of Clean Management at 915 Industrial Road north of Walterboro was on fire, with flames coming from the building. Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue Engine 19, stationed less than a mile away, arrived within minutes, to find heavy fire conditions in a storage and processing building. Most of the structure was a large open air canopy style building used for storing and neutralizing industrial waste. The building also contained several offices, file, and break rooms. The building contained hundreds of 55-gallon steel drums and plastic containers of varying products. First arriving units requested a second alarm, then deployed multiple 2-1/2 and 1-3/4 handlines. Two drop tanks were set up for water supply with tenders shuttling water for the firefighting effort. Firefighters cut a section from the fence surrounding the property to gain access to the building and forced entry through the front and a side door.

Colleton County SC Fire Rescue battle commercial fire at night
Harold Buzzell photo
Colleton County SC Fire Rescue battle commercial fire at night
Harold Buzzell photo

Crews worked for 40 minutes to gain control of the fire and were at the scene for five hours performing overhaul. Much of the product was saved, but the building suffered extensive damage. The area over the offices also received heavy damage, but the interior of the building was saved, receiving mostly smoke and water damage. Several pieces of heavy equipment were also destroyed or damaged in the fire. Two firefighters were transported to Colleton Medical Center for evaluation following exposure to one of the substances, upon the recommendation of Chemtrec. Both were treated and released the following morning. Viewing surveillance video, it appears the fire started near a piece of heavy equipment parked in the middle of the facility about 30 minutes after the business closed. The fire quickly spread from there to the other parts of the building. 

Colleton County SC Fire Rescue battle commercial fire at night
Harold Buzzell photo
Colleton County SC Fire Rescue battle commercial fire at night
Harold Buzzell photo
Colleton County SC Fire Rescue battle commercial fire at night
Harold Buzzell photo
Colleton County SC Fire Rescue battle commercial fire at night
Harold Buzzell photo
Colleton County SC Fire Rescue battle commercial fire at night
Harold Buzzell photo

Engine 19, Engine 26, Engine 27, Tender 1, Tender 5, Tender 9, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Tender 32, Tender 36, Ladder 19, Medic 1, Medic 9, Medic 19, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 104, Car 105, Car 107, Car 112 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Scott O’Quinn and Captain Janey Laney operated the Command Post.  SCDHEC and the Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene. 

Photos by Harold Buzzell

Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

An Islandton, SC home was heavily damaged in an afternoon fire in the 100 block of Cayman Lane Friday afternoon 06-December. At 14:08, the occupant was asleep and was awakened by smoke in the home. Upon investigation, he found a large fire in the kitchen. The man was able to escape without injury and called 9-1-1. Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue Engine 15 arrived a short time later to find the home approximately 50% involved with heavy fire conditions at the rear of the one-story, wood frame residence.

Colleton County fire engine at house fire
Barry McRoy photo
Firefighter with hose battles house fire
Barry McRoy photo
Firefighter with hose battles house fire
Barry McRoy photo

Firefighter-Paramedics deployed two handlines to the building. Crews had the fire knocked down within 15 minutes leaving about half the building still standing, however the interior suffered extensive damage. Most personal items were destroyed. Fire units were on the scene for 2-1/2 hours performing overhaul. The fire appears to have been electrical in nature and started near the electrical service and breaker box at the rear of the home before spreading into the attic. Water supply was conducted with tenders. The Red Cross is assisting the family.  

Firefighter with hose overhauls after house fire
Barry McRoy photo
Firefighter with hose overhauls after house fire
Barry McRoy photo

Engine 15, Engine 18, Tender 4, Tender 15, Tender 18, Tender 27, Tender 29, Medic 1, Medic 13, Medic 18, Battalion 1, Car 112, Car 118, and Car 119 responded. Captain Matt Owens Williams, Jr. served as Incident Commander.  

Barry W. McRoy – Fire Chief – Colleton County Fire-Rescue


A multi-vehicle MVC on I-95, sent two people to the hospital Wednesday morning 04-December at 03:24. The accident occurred in Colleton County (SC) near the 55 mile marker northbound, west of Walterboro, when a northbound Peterbilt tractor trailer lost control while traveling at a high rate of speed. The truck entered the median and struck multiple trees, causing one pine tree to fall across the northbound lanes of the Interstate.

trees destroyed by tractor trailer crash
Barry McRoy photo

The truck overturned and came to rest approximately 30 feet into the wooded area. The cab suffered massive damage and was in several pieces. The engine and entire drive train were ejected from the chassis, landing approximately 60 feet away. The hot engine started a woods fire. The bulk of the cab was wrapped around a tree with the steering wheel on one side and the driver’s seat on the other. The truck driver was trapped in the seat. He suffered multiple traumatic injuries and was in critical condition. The truck’s saddle tanks ruptured soaking the scene and the patient with diesel fuel.

trees on fire after truck crash
Barry McRoy photo
Firefighters rescue the driver of a tractor trailer crash
Barry McRoy photo

The truck was hauling an intermodal tank which was labeled with a placard indicating it contained diesel fuel, however it was later found to be improperly labeled and contained hazardous chemicals. The tank was not breached and did not leak any contents.

Firefighters inspect the scene of a tractor trailer crash
Barry McRoy photo

Shortly after the truck crashed, a northbound Ford F150 pickup struck the fallen tree causing the driver to lose control. The pickup truck entered the median, struck several trees and also overturned north of the burning woods. The driver was wearing a seatbelt and received only minor injuries.

A passenger car then struck the tree and also entered the median and struck several trees. The two occupants were not injured. Shortly thereafter a second semitruck struck the fallen tree. He was able to stop in the breakdown lane. The driver was not injured.

A third semi-truck struck the tree, but was able to stop which blocked the highway and prevented other vehicles from striking the tree. The occupants of the second and third trucks ran to assist the injured people. 9-1-1 was flooded with reports of the accident.

Colleton County Fire-Rescue units arrived on the dark stretch of Interstate to find multiple vehicles stopped around the scene, tree pieces and wood debris scattered around the roadway, the woods in the median on fire, and several vehicles in the median.

aftermath of semi truck crash
Barry McRoy photo

Firefighter-Paramedics immediately requested additional personnel and apparatus to respond to the scene. Crews began checking on the vehicles and the wooded area for patients. A handline was deployed from Engine 1 to extinguish the fire and lighting was set up to illuminate the accident site. The critically injured truck driver was located, trapped in the wreckage. He was making attempts to get out of the damaged cab. Firefighter-Paramedics placed a medical helicopter on standby and deployed Holmatro Rescue Tools to the truck. Crews were able to use hand tools and worked the man free from the remains of the cab. They treated his severe injuries and controlled the bleeding, then transported him emergent in Fire-Rescue Medic 1 to the helipad at Colleton Medical Center to meet with the C.A.R.E. Flight crew.

The patient was soaked in diesel fuel and could not be flown in the helicopter. The Flight Crew then rode in Medic 1 to assist with patient care while the patient was transported emergent to the Trauma Center at MUSC in Charleston.

aftermath of semi truck crash
Barry McRoy photo

The driver of the Ford pickup truck was transported to Colleton Medical Center by Fire-Rescue Medic 26. No other patients required ambulance transport to a medical facility. Traffic on I-95 northbound in the area of the accident was completely blocked. Sheriff’s deputies shutdown the northbound lanes of the Interstate at Exit 53, detouring traffic to Sniders Hwy (SC Hwy. 63). While working the traffic assignment, a northbound tractor trailer struck a Sheriff’s vehicle, totaling the fully marked Dodge Charger. The deputy was not in the car and was able to run out of the way to avoid injury. Traffic remained heavy through Walterboro most of the morning as detoured vehicles slowly made their way through town. Recovery crews and SCDOT worked all morning to clear the accident site. The SC Highway Patrol and State Transport Police are investigating the crash. 

Engine 1, Rescue 1, Medic 1, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 27, Car 112 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander. 

Barry W. McRoy –Fire Chief Colleton County Fire-Rescue

Colleton County (SC) firefighters saved a home at 315 Enterprise Street Friday morning 04-May. At 08:27, Colleton 9-1-1 received a report that the home was on fire and the caller could see flames coming from a window. Engine 19 arrived to find the single-story, residential dwelling with heavy smoke visible and flames on the Delta side and in the attic. Crews forced entry through the front door and deployed two 1-3/4 handlines to the interior of the building. They made a rapid search of the building to insure no one was inside. Conditions quickly worsened as two rooms flashed over and both interior crews were evacuated from the building. Firefighters began an exterior attack on the fire and after knocking down the flames, reentered the structure to extinguish the remainder of the fire. They had the fire under control within 20 minutes, saving most of the structure. Two rooms and a portion of the attic suffered heavy fire damage, but the remainder of the home suffered smoke and heat damage. No one was injured in the fire. Water supply was handled with tenders pumping truck to truck. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Units were on the scene for three hours.

Engine 1, Engine 19, Tender 1, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 1, Medic 19, Battalion 1, Car 112, Car 118 and Car 119 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.

Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

fire blowing out of window at a house

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighter with hose battles flames

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighters battle house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Barry McRoy photoFirefighter overhauls house after a fire

Firefighters inside house after a fire

Barry McRoy photo

fire department tender nursing an engine

Barry McRoy photo

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

heavy smoke and flames from mobile home on fire

Barry McRoy photo

heavy smoke and flames from mobile home on fire

Barry McRoy photo

heavy smoke and flames from mobile home on fire

Barry McRoy photo

heavy smoke and flames from mobile home on fire

Barry McRoy photo

heavy smoke from mobile home on fire

Barry McRoy photo

heavy smoke and flames from mobile home on fire

Barry McRoy photo

E-ONE fire engine at fire scene

Barry McRoy photo

heavy smoke from mobile home on fire

Barry McRoy photo

heavy smoke from mobile home on fire

Barry McRoy photo

heavy smoke from mobile home on fire

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighter battles mobile home fire

Barry McRoy photo

heavy smoke from mobile home on fire

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighters overhaul mobile home fire

Harold Buzzell photo

Firefighters overhaul mobile home fire

Harold Buzzell photo

Firefighters overhaul mobile home fire

Harold Buzzell photo

 

A 70 year-old Colleton County (SC) man and a small dog perished in a morning fire at his residence located at 20438 Augusta Hwy. Friday morning 02-February. At 05:14, a motorist traveling on Augusta Hwy noticed the flames and notified 9-1-1. The home sat off of the roadway, and the caller advised the home was fully involved. Colleton County Fire-Rescue Engine 36 arrived 7 minutes later reporting a fully involved, single-story, brick veneer residential dwelling and that the roof had already collapsed. Engine 36 used the deckgun to knock down the flames while firefighter-paramedics deployed multiple handlines to combat the fire. Firefighters quickly found the man near the front door. A tender shuttle was established for water supply. Crews worked for 25 minutes to bring the fire under control and for several hours to finish overhaul. The coroner’s office was notified and responded to the scene along with State Police (SLED) investigators and personnel from the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Traffic on busy Augusta Hwy was down to one lane for several hours. Firefighters, deputy sheriffs, and SC Highway Patrol detoured traffic for several hours. The cause of the fire  is under investigation.

Engine 5, Engine 9, Engine 19, Engine 36, Tender 5, Tender 9, Tender 19, Tender 27, Tender 36, Medic 9, Medic 19, Brush 9, Car 107, Car 112, Car 118, and Battalion 1 responded. Battalion Chief Chris Jones and Chief McRoy operated the Command Post.

Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue

house gutted by fire in Colleton County SC

Barry McRoy photo

Colleton County SC Fire Rescue  at the scene of a house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighter battles house fire at night

Barry McRoy photo

rural house engulfed in fire at night

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighters overhaul after house fire

Barry McRoy photo

A Ruffin family was displaced following an afternoon fire that destroyed half of their home Wednesday, 27-September. At 17:05, Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue was notified of the incident when a neighbor noticed flames coming from the roof of the home at 413 Double Churches Road. Engine 18 arrived minutes later to find heavy fire conditions on the west side of the single-story, residential dwelling. The roof over the garage had already collapsed.

Firefighter-Paramedics deployed two 1-3/4 handlines and forced entry through the front door. Crews made an aggressive interior attack and stopped the spread of the fire approximately half the way through the residence. The fire was under control within 25 minutes.

A search of the building found no occupants, however two canines perished in the fire. Firefighters buried the animals for the homeowner. The fire appears to have started in the area of the electrical panel in the garage. It moved into the attic from the garage. Firefighters stopped the fire approximately midway through the home, saving the rooms on the east side of the structure and some personal items. The remainder of the home suffered smoke, heat and water damage. Water supply was handled with a water shuttle using tenders. Fire units were on the scene for four hours.

Engine 18, Engine 26, Tender 4, Tender 7, Tender 18, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 18, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 105, Car 112 and Car 119 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.

Barry McRoy

Colleton County fire truck on scene

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighters overhaul after a house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighters overhaul after a house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighters overhaul after a house fire

Barry McRoy photo

Colleton County fire trucks on scene

Barry McRoy photo

Firefighters overhaul after a house fire

Harold Buzzell photo