A 3500 sq ft dwelling was destroyed in an early morning fire in the 5400 block of Prices Bridge Road Tuesday morning 16-February. At 03:02, 9-1-1 was notified of the incident, with the caller reporting flames coming from the home along Chessey Creek. The home is located near the end of a five mile long dead-end road. The fire occurred during a severe thunderstorm with blinding rain and 33 mph winds. Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue Engine 6 arrived to find the single-story block building approximately 80% involved. The roof had already collapsed over a portion of the building. They initially attempted to use the deck gun, but the strong winds prevented the water from reaching the building. Firefighter-Paramedics deployed three handlines to combat the fire. The wind-driven fire spread rapidly and quickly consumed the remainder of the building. An operational Model T and a Corvette were also destroyed in the garage. It took approximately 40 minutes to bring the fire under control. The home and contents were destroyed. Fire units were on the scene for six hours. Water supply was conducted with a tender shuttle from a dry hydrant at Prices Bridge Landing, two miles from the scene. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Engine 6, Engine 12, Tender 1, Tender 6, Tender 12, Tender 19, Tender 27, Medic 1, Medic 6, Medic 19, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Battalion Chief Scott Feather served as Incident Commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
A Renee Court home was destroyed in a Saturday evening blaze 23-Janaury. At 20:34, several callers reported seeing flames coming from a residence near the intersection of Robertson Blvd and Renee Court south of Walterboro. Colleton County Fire-Rescue (SC) Car 118 arrived four minutes later to find the single-story, wooden structure fully-involved. Engine 1 initially used a deck gun to knock down the flames while crews deployed handlines to the building. Two 1-3/4 handlines were used to extinguish the fire. The back of the building had already collapsed prior to arrival indicating the building had been burning for some time before anyone reported the fire. It took approximately 15 minutes to bring the fire under control. Firefighters were on the scene for 2 hours performing overhaul. Water supply was conducted with tenders. No one was at home when the fire occurred and the cause is under investigation.
Engine 1, Engine 26, Tender 1, Tender 19, Tender 27, Medic 1, Battalion 1, and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Scott Feather 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 passing motorist reported a home burning Friday evening 22-May at 3541 Azalea Patch Road. At 22:15, the first caller to Colleton County (SC) 9-1-1 advised the home was well-involved with flames coming through the roof. Firefighters arrived minutes later to find the ranch-style home approximately 80 percent involved and most of the roof had already collapsed. A large workshop behind the home was being threatened.
First arriving units requested a second alarm and directed Engine 4 to set up a water shuttle operation at a dry hydrant located ½ mile north of the incident. Crews used a deck gun, two 2-1/2” handlines and four 1-3/4” handlines to combat the fire, as well as protect the exposure.
Firefighters had the bulk of the fire knocked down within twenty minutes, but remained on the scene performing overhaul for four hours. The unintentional fire appears to have started in an upstairs room and had been burning for some time before the motorist saw the flames. No one was at home when the fire occurred. Four dogs in the back yard were not injured.
Engine 1, Engine 4, Engine 10, Engine 18, Engine 31, Tender 1, Tender 4, Tender 13, Tender 15, Tender 26, Tender 90, Medic 13, Medic 18, Medic 26, Battalion 1 and Car 105 responded. Battalion Chief Dan Barb served as Incident Commander.
One firefighter was injured and a residential dwelling destroyed Sunday morning 15-March. At 01:15, Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue was notified of a reported explosion and house fire at 461 Three Mile Road, north of Walterboro. Engine 19 arrived to the rural dirt road minutes later to find the single-story, wood-frame dwelling fully involved.
It is suspected that the home had been burning for quite some time before anyone discovered the fire, as the entire roof had already burned off of the building. A LP tank was found to be venting behind the structure sending flames 20 feet into the air. It is believed the tank venting was the loud noise which alerted neighbors to the fire.
Photo by Harold Buzzell
The driveway to the home was equipped with a narrow metal gate which prevented fire apparatus from accessing the property. Firefighters deployed two 3-inch lines from Engine 19 through the yard to the building, then gated them down to supply two 1-3/4 handlines each. One crew was dedicated to cool the LP tank, while other firefighters battled the blaze.
One nearby exposure was endangered; a detached apartment, carport and utility room was connected by a covered walkway and located about 30 feet from the burning home. A portion of the covered walkway was badly damaged, however firefighters were able to prevent the flames from reaching the apartment and carport.
Photo by Harold Buzzell
While engaged in extinguishing the fire, a portion of the floor near the front of the building collapsed. One firefighter fell through the floor and was inures landing on the floor joists below. He was transported by ambulance (Medic 26) to Colleton Medical Center, where he received treatment for broken ribs and other non-life threatening injuries before being released from the hospital later in the day.
Firefighters remained on the scene for 5-1/2 hours. The large home had been vacant for over a year, but still had power connected. The origin of the fire appeared to be suspicious in nature. Colleton Fire Investigators notified the Sheriff’s Office and the State Police Arson Unit (SLED). SLED agents and other investigators remained on the scene throughout the morning.
An Oakman Branch family was displaced after their home was destroyed in a late afternoon house fire, Friday evening 09-January. At 16:38, a caller reported the back of the home at 11138 Augusta Highway was ablaze. Colleton County (SC) Firefighters arrived to the rural community near I-95 eleven minutes later to find the 4,800 square foot, two-story house fully involved. A second alarm was issued shortly after arrival and a portion of the roof collapsed within two minutes of Engine 26 arriving on the scene. Firefighters used a truck mounted deck gun, deployed a ground monitor, a 2-1/2 handline, and multiple 1-3/4 handlines to combat the fire. A tender shuttle was established for water supply since no fire hydrants were in the area.
A third alarm was issued for additional tenders and personnel approximately ten minutes after arrival. The main structure collapsed nine minutes later. The fire was contained within 35 minutes and was under control approximately an hour later. Firefighters remained on the scene for six hours performing overhaul. Nine of Fire-Rescue’s 3,000-gallon tenders shuttled water for four hours.
The home owner advised he started a fire in the home’s fireplace. It was the first time they had used the fireplace since the home was constructed 15 years prior. Approximately 15 minutes later he saw flames through a window on the rear of the home. Upon investigating he found the back of the house and roof were on fire. He was able to evacuate everyone from the home safely and notify 9-1-1. No one was injured during the incident and the American Red Cross is assisting the family. Off-duty personnel were called in to back fill some stations.
Engine 13, Engine 17, Engine 19, Engine 26, Tender 5, Tender 6, Tender 7, Tender 9, Tender 18, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Tender 32, Rescue 1, Medic 18, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 12, Car 118, Car 105, Car 107 responded. Battalion Chief Ben Heape served as incident commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
A vacant residence in the 4000 block of Wiggins Road was destroyed in an evening fire Wednesday 17-December. The initial call was received at 17:07. Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue Engine 6 arrived to find the single-story, wood-frame structure approximately 70% involved. The home is located in a remote rural area. Firefighter-Paramedics deployed multiple handlines to combat the fire.
The flames extended into a wooded area adjacent to the home and a tractor was requested from the Forestry Commission. Firefighters knocked down the heavy flames within 25 minutes, but were on the scene for 4 hours performing overhaul. Water supply was conducted with a tender shuttle. The Forestry Commission plowed a fire line around the property to contain the woods fire. The home had no power connected and the fire was apparently intentionally set. Fire investigators and the Sheriff’s Office are investigating the incident.
Engine 6, Engine 13, Tender 6, Tender 13, Tender 22, Tender 25, Medic 6, Medic 13, Battalion 1. and Car 107 responded. Asst. Chief Marty Stallings served as the incident commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
