Incident # 14-06216 – At 20:30, a Ruffin (SC) man narrowly escaped his burning home Wednesday evening 22-October after he was awakened by the heat and smoke inside his residence. He attempted to extinguish the fire which he stated was above the stove before he was driven from the home. The man ran to a neighbor’s house to call 9-1-1. The caller advised she could see flames through the woods at 1627 Deliverance Road.
Colleton County Fire-Rescue Engine 18 arrived minutes later to find the cinderblock single-family dwelling over 50% involved. Firefighters used a deck gun in an attempt to stop the flames before deploying multiple handlines. The fire quickly spread to the remaining structure. Crews worked for thirty five minutes to bring the fire under control, but were on the scene for three and half hours. The house was destroyed. A tender shuttle was established to supply water for the firefighting effort. No injuries were reported in the incident. The Charleston Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting the man who lost most of his belongings in the fire.
Engine 10, Engine 15, Engine 18, Engine 31, Tender 4, Tender 7, Tender 15, Tender 18, Tender 26, Medic 18, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
Two homes were damaged and one workshop destroyed in an early morning fire that started at 160 Boone Street in the Country Estates Subdivision south of the City of Walterboro (SC) Tuesday morning 26-August. At 01:45, 9-1-1 operators began receiving reports of the fire in a workshop and a home located behind the workshop. Colleton County Fire-Rescue Car 118 arrived to find the 20×40 block work shop fully-involved and a single-story residential dwelling approximately 30% involved.
Engine 1 was directed to a position on Capers Street behind the workshop. Multiple handlines and a deck gun were used in an attempt to extinguish the rapidly spreading fire in the Capers Street home. It appeared the fire originated in the workshop and spread to piles of lumber and wood in the yard. The residence at 189 Capers Street was located approximately 20 feet from the workshop on the lot next door and the fire spread to the attached garage, then extended into the attic. Neighbors had awaken the family at the Capers Street home. An adult male and two teenagers were able to safely exit the house.
A second alarm was requested six minutes after the first fire units arrived, with a third alarm five minutes later. The home on Capers Street had security bars on all of the windows. Firefighters had to remove the bars with a K-12 saw before it was safe to enter the structure. The fire quickly spread through the attic and within seven minutes after arrival was extending from the eaves on all sides of the home. The main house at 160 Boone Street also suffered heat damage to the rear of the house and most items in the back yard were destroyed. A pickup truck parked next to the workshop was also destroyed.
Firefighter-Paramedics worked diligently to contain the Capers Street fire, while other crewmembers protected the exposures on Boone Street and worked to extinguish the workshop fire. A tender shuttle was established for water supply, due to the majority of the subdivision being an unhydranted area.
It took approximately 50 minutes to bring the fires under control. The Capers Street home lost most of the roof and the majority of the fire was contained to the attic, however the remainder of the home suffered heavy damage from drop down fire and water. Many personal items were salvaged. The workshop and pickup truck on Boone Street were completely destroyed, as were several pieces of equipment in the yard. The Boone Street home also suffered heat and fire damage to the back of the house. The fire appeared to have started in or near the electrical panel in the workshop. Fire units were on the scene for over five hours. The Charleston Chapter of the American Red Cross was contacted to assist the family. No injuries were reported.
Engine 1, Engine 4, Engine 5, Engine 17, Engine 19, Engine 24, Engine 26, Tender 1, Tender 6, Tender 9, Tender 13, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 1, Medic 6, Medic 9, Medic, Medic 26, Rescue 1, Battalion 1, Car 12, Car 105, Car 107 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Dan Barb and Captain Gary Nahrstedt operated the Command Post.
Firefighter-Paramedics saved a Live Oak Street home after a passerby reported flames coming from the structure at 21:53, Sunday evening 01-December. Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue arrived to find heavy fire conditions with flames through the roof on the “D” side of the structure. Engine 19 deployed two 1-3/4 handlines. Crews forced entry through the front door and quickly located the fire. They spent approximately 10 minutes bringing the fire under control. It was contained to two rooms, saving the remainder of the single-story wood-frame dwelling. No one was at home when the fire occurred. The cause appears to be electrical in nature and started in the attic. Water supply was handled with tenders. Fire units were on the scene for 2-1/2 hours.
Engine 19, Engine 24, Engine 27, Tender 1, Tender 12, Tender 19, Tender 27, Medic 19, Medic 26, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.
