A 28,000 sq. ft. home at Myrtle Grove Plantation was destroyed in an evening fire Wednesday 05-September in rural Colleton County (SC). At 18:29, 9-1-1 dispatchers received a report from an occupant at the residence located at 6938 White Hall Road advising that an A/C unit in the basement was on fire. The caller noted everyone was safely out of the building. The large home, which was constructed about ten years ago, is located at the end of a single lane, 1-1/2 mile long dirt road overlooking the Combahee River. Engine 6 and Car 107 were the first units to arrive and found that fire apparatus could not travel the road due to low hanging trees. Firefighters used chain saws to cut the tree limbs as they traveled down the small road trying to reach the fire. Crews had to stop five times to cut away the low hanging tree limbs before they could reach the scene. This delayed units reaching the fire and aerial apparatus could not access the scene.
After arriving at the end of the road, a large oak tree blocked access to the home. The residence is located in a non-hydranted area. Engine 2 established a water supply point at a large pond on the property and drafted water from the pond to refill tenders. Once on scene, firefighter-paramedics found heavy black smoke coming from the interior of the building. Flames were visible on the first and second floors at the rear of the structure. Firefighters deployed multiple handlines to the main building. Due the access problems, crews extended 3-inch lines to the building, gating them off to 1-3/4” lines and 2-1/2” lines to attack the fire. Firefighters protected exposures on one of the wings.
A second alarm was issued shortly after arrival. The fire quickly spread through the structure and interior conditions deteriorated forcing a defensive attack on the fire. The basement extended under the entire building, allowing the fire to reach all areas under the residence which was inaccessible to firefighters. Ground master stream devices were set up in the front lawn. A third alarm was requested about thirty minutes later and mutual-aid for personnel was requested from nearby Sheldon Fire Dept. in Beaufort County. Additional off-duty personnel were also recalled. Two water shuttle operations were established with tenders supplying Engine 6 near the residence and Engine 25 to the east of the home.
As news of the fire reached the public, onlookers came to the scene, blocking the only single lane access road. Several people walked ½ a mile to view the fire leaving their vehicles on the causeway near the water supply point. This prevented all additional responding fire apparatus from reaching the scene. Incoming firefighters then had to walk the same ½ mile to begin to assist at the scene. It took over thirty minutes to locate the drivers to have the vehicles moved. Sheriff’s deputies eventually blocked the entrance to the plantation, allowing only fire units access to the property. The fire eventually destroyed the entire structure. Firefighters worked through the night and early morning to extinguish the large fire. Fire crews were at the scene for 13 hours. One firefighter was injured and transported to Colleton Medical Center for treatment. He was released early Thursday morning and should be able to return to duty within a week.
Engine 1, Engine 2, Engine 6, Engine 13, Engine 19, Engine 25, Tender 1, Tender 2, Tender 6, Tender 8, Tender 9, Tender 12, Tender 13, Tender 19, Tender 21, Tender 25, Tender 26, Tender 27, Tender 32, Medic 1, Medic 6, Medic 9, Medic 13, Medic 19, Battalion 1, Car 107, Car 112, Car 118 and Fleet 2 responded. Asst. Chief Marty Stallings, Battalion Chief Scott O’Quinn and Firefighter-EMT Shane Weber operated the Command Post. Captain Michael Banks coordinated water supply.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
A Colleton County (SC) home was destroyed in an early morning fire Wednesday 24-January. At 04:08, a caller to 9-1-1 reported seeing flames coming from the roof and hearing glass breaking in the two-story, residential structure, located at 262 Lakewood Drive. Firefighters arrived minutes later to find the home fully involved. It had been burning for some time before anyone discovered the fire.
The home was located in the back of the subdivision on the corner of Lakewood Dr and Sangaree Rd. Engine 19 set up on Sangaree while Engine 26 set up on Lakewood. Both units used deckguns on the fire and deployed multiple handlines. Engine 26 used a 3-inch line with a TFT Blitzfire master steam in the backyard, as well as two 1-3/4 handlines. Engine 19 deployed two 1-3/4 handlines and one 2-1/2 handline to the north side of the structure. The entire building collapsed approximately 10 minutes after fire units arrived.
A tender shuttle was established to provide water supply to Engine 26. Tenders pumped truck to truck to supply Engine 19. A second alarm was requested shortly after arrival for additional personnel and tenders. Ladder 19 setup behind Engine 26 on Lakewood Dr. Firefighters worked for over an hour to bring the fire under control and were on the scene for six hours performing overhaul. A small track hoe from the Roads and Bridges Department was brought in to assist firefighters in removing debris during overhaul operations. The home was being renovated and the cause appears to have been electrical in nature.
Engine 1, Engine 19, Engine 26, Tender 1, Tender 4, Tender 5, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Ladder 19, Medic 1, Medic 13, Medic 19, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 105, Car 112, and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Chris Jones served as incident commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
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 Ruffin SC family was displaced following a fire in their residence at 471 Paps Place off of Red Root Road, Monday morning 14-October at 00:54. Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue Engine 18 arrived to find the one-story wood frame structure approximately 65% involved, with flames through the roof on the south side of the building. All of the occupants had safely exited the building prior to Fire-Rescue’s arrival.
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Firefighters deployed two 1-3/4 handlines. A second alarm was issued shortly after arrival for additional tenders and personnel. The home was located near the end of a ½ mile long, narrow dirt road, presenting some access problems for responding apparatus. Units staged ½ mile away on Red Root Road until the tenders completed their dump and then rotated into the scene. Firefighters knocked down the bulk of the fire within 25 minutes, but were on the scene for four and a half hours performing overhaul. They were able to stop the spread of the fire to the north end of the structure, however the remainder of the building suffered heavy heat, smoke, and water damage. Water supply was conducted with a tender shuttle from a pressurized hydrant about 3 miles from the scene.
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
One of the occupants reported he was watching TV when he smelled smoke. Upon investigation, he located a fire in the utility room, with flames already reaching the ceiling. He ran outside to retrieve a fire extinguisher from a vehicle, but when he returned the room was well involved. He got everyone else out of the home and they called 9-1-1. No one was injured during the fire. Fire investigators determined the fire originated in the utility room near the area of the gas hot water heater. The Charleston Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting the family.
Barry McRoy photo
Barry McRoy photo
Engine 4, Engine 10, Engine 18, Engine 26, Engine 31, Tender 4, Tender 7, Tender 8, Tender 15, Tender 18, Tender 26, Tender 27, Tender 29, Medic 18, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 12, Car 111, and Car 118 responded. Engineer-Paramedic Roger Johnston served as Incident Commander.
