An Estates Drive home, north of Walterboro, was heavily damaged in an early morning fire, Tuesday 21-February. At 00:46, Colleton 9-1-1 operators received several reports of smoke and flames coming from a residence located at 468 Estates Drive. An off-duty firefighter who lives one block away arrived a minute later and reported flames through the roof with approximately 50% of the home involved.
Colleton County (SC) Engine 19 arrived minutes later and used the deck gun to knock down a large portion of the flames. Firefighter-Paramedics deployed three 1-3/4 handlines to combat the fire, which appears to have started in a bedroom on the southside of the structure before spreading to the attic. The homeowner was in the building and noticed smoke in the hallway and he was able to safely exit the residence. Firefighters gained control of the fire within 10 minutes stopping the advance of the flames, but approximately ¾ of the roof was burned away. The bedroom where the fire originated was also heavily damaged, but many items were salvageable in the remainder of the home. Fire crews were on the scene for two hours. The cause of the fire is suspected to be a space heater, but an investigation is ongoing.
Engine 19, Engine 27, Tender 1, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 19, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 109 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
Two North Carolina residents were injured, one critically, in a single-car, high speed MVC on I-95 near the 42 mile marker southbound, Tuesday morning 07-February at 03:48. The 1997 Nissan Pathfinder left the highway, drove down the right side embankment, and struck a large tree. The impact caused heavy damage to the small SUV trapping both occupants.
Colleton County (SC) Firefighter-Paramedics from Station # 13 arrived minutes later to find the passenger heavily entrapped with life threatening injuries. A second Fire-Rescue ambulance and rescue unit were requested. Crews used Holmatro rescue tools to extricate the occupants. Hydraulic spreaders, cutters, and two rams were used to remove the passenger side doors and displace the dash off of the patient. A second set of tools were used to remove the driver’s door to free the driver.
Both patients were treated during the extrication and removed with full spinal precautions. The male driver was transported to Colleton Medical Center by Medic 13. Medic 1 transported the adult female and performed advanced airway treatment enroute to the trauma center at Trident Medical in North Charleston. The patient suffered multiple traumatic and internal injuries. Neither patient was wearing a seatbelt. Two canines were also in the vehicle. One remained on the scene and did not appear to be injured. Colleton County Animal Control responded to the scene and took custody of the dog. The second animal fled the scene prior to Fire-Rescue arriving. A search of the area was performed, but the dog was not found. The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
Engine 1, Rescue 1, Medic 1, Medic 13, 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 Springtown (SC) home was heavily damaged in an afternoon fire Sunday 05-February. At 18:32, Colleton 9-1-1 operators received multiple reports of a building on fire at 8947 Augusta Hwy. (SC Hwy 61). Callers reported fire coming from the back and roof of the building with several nearby homes endangered.
Colleton County Fire-Rescue Battalion 1 arrived 7 minutes later to find the single-story, wood-frame dwelling heavily involved with fire visible from the roof and most of the rear of the structure in flames. Engine 26 arrived a short time later and deployed two 1-3/4″ handlines. One crew protected an exposure, a doublewide mobile home 35 feet west of the building, while a second crew forced entry through the front door.
Firefighter-Paramedics made an aggressive attack on the fire quickly bringing it under control within 15 minutes. The home suffered heavy damage during the fire, however one room and its contents were saved with little damage. Some personal items were also saved. Damage to the doublewide mobile home next door was minimal with only the vinyl siding being damaged. A car on the other side of the structure also received minor damage. The remaining two nearby structures were not damaged. Water supply was handled with a tender shuttle. No one was injured during the incident. Sheriff’s deputies detoured traffic on Augusta Hwy for two hours. The Red Cross is assisting the family.
Engine 5, Engine 7, Engine 26, Tender 5, Tender 7, Tender 26, Tender 32, Tender 36, Medic 26, Battalion 1, and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.
Photos by Harold Buzzell
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
A Walterboro (SC) family was displaced following a structure fire at 212 Brights Court Monday afternoon, 30-January at 17:36. Callers to 9-1-1 reported the fire started in the area of the kitchen and then spread with smoke and flames reported to be coming from the attic.
Car 107 arrived to find heavy smoke conditions from all sides of the approx. 4000 sq ft home with flames visible from the south end of the building. Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue Engine 1 arrived and deployed two 1-3/4 handlines and used the deck gun in an effort to knock down the flames. As firefighters made entry through the front door, the roof erupted in flames along the ridge vent extending across the structure. Crews attempted an interior attack, but were evacuated from the building a short time later.
A second alarm was requested shortly after arrival as firefighters performed a defensive attack from outside the building. A charged power line fell from the building minutes after arrival blocking access to the rear of the south end of the structure. An additional 1-3/4 and one 2-1/2 handline were deployed.
Water supply was handled with a tender shuttle. A third alarm was issued for manpower 50 minutes into the incident. Crews worked for nearly 1-1/2 hours to gain control of the fire which extended throughout the common attic and damaged most rooms in the residence. The home suffered substantial damage. The fire appears to have started in the breaker box behind the kitchen and extended into the attic. The home had several additions. Fire units were on the scene for seven hours. No injuries were reported during the incident. The American Red Cross is assisting the family.
Engine 1, Engine 9, Tender 1, Tender 2, Tender 6, Tender 19, Tender 22, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 1, Medic 6, Medic 13, Medic 19, Car 107, Car 109, Car 118, and Car 119 were at the scene. Assistant Chief Marty Stallings served as Incident Commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
A large barn at Circle M Ranch located at 2927 Cottageville Hwy (US Hwy 17-A) north of Walterboro was destroyed in an early morning fire 23-January. At 00:28 a passerby reported to 9-1-1 that the building was on fire and the roof have already collapsed. Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue units arrived minutes later to find the approximately 4,500 sq. ft. barn fully involved. Little of the building was still standing.
Firefighters deployed multiple hand lines to combat the blaze. A water shuttle operation was initiated for water supply. Crews contended with high winds which were a contributing factor in the rapid spread of the fire. The Circle M Ranch boards, sells, and trains horses. Most of the horses escaped injury, however one horse perished in the fire.
Firefighters were on the scene for three hours. Heavy thunderstorms were in the area most of the day and evening, bringing high winds, rain, and lightning. The fire is suspected to have been storm related, but the cause is still under investigation.
Engine 19, Engine 27, Engine 36, Tender 1, Tender 9, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 1, Medic 9, Medic 19, Battalion 1, Car 109, and Car 111 responded. Battalion Chief Ben Heape served as Incident Commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
A doublewide mobile home received heavy damage during an afternoon fire at 488 Jessie Lane Tuesday afternoon 15-November. At 15:20, a neighbor reported flames coming from the roof of the residence which is located at the end of rural cul-de-sac. Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue Engine 9 arrived to find the building approximately 25% involved.
Firefighter-Paramedics deployed multiple handlines and made entry through the front door. They found a dog inside the home and rescued the animal, bringing him safely outside. The roof on the east side of the building had already burned away, but crews were able to quickly stop the advance of the flames containing most of the damage to the bedrooms on the east end of the structure. The remainder of the home was saved, but suffered smoke damage. Crews were on the scene for three hours. Water supply was conducted with tenders. The cause of the fire appears to be suspicious and is under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office.
Engine 9, Engine 27, Tender 2, Tender 5, Tender 9, Tender 19, Tender 27, Tender 36, Medic 9, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 12, Car 107 and Car 118 responded. Chief McRoy served as Incident Commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
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
