Two adults and two children narrowly escaped an early morning fire at 413 Azalea Drive Tuesday morning 05-June. At 03:48, 9-1-1 received a report from a resident on Tulip Drive, one block from the scene, advising he could see flames coming from the roof of a house on Azalea Drive. While Fire-Rescue units were enroute, the occupants of the home were awaken by the smoke inside the house. The adults quickly awakened the children and all four occupants climbed out of the master bedroom window to safety. The home did not have any working smoke detectors. After escaping, the family called 9-1-1, providing the correct address.
Colleton County (SC) Engine 26 arrived a short time later reporting flames coming from the roof over the garage and heavy smoke conditions throughout the single-story, residential dwelling. Firefighter-paramedics verified with the occupants that everyone was safely out of the home. Crews deployed multiple hand lines to the building, with one crew attacking the fire through the garage and a second crew forcing entry through the front door. The fire had entered the kitchen area from the garage, but interior crews quickly gained control of the fire.
The flames had also spread through the attic, burning over the bedrooms. Firefighters pulled the ceiling in several rooms to reach the flames and extinguish the fire. It was contained mostly to the garage, kitchen, and attic. The majority of the structure and most personal items in the remainder of the home were saved. No injuries were reported. Water supply was conducted using tenders who supplied Engine 26. The fire appears to have originated in the utility room off of the garage and is believed to have been electrical in nature. Units were on the scene for four hours.
Engine 26, Engine 27, Tender 1, Tender 4, Tender 5, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 19, Medic 26, Battalion 1, Car 112, and Car 118 responded. Captain Brian Rowe served as Incident Commander.
Barry W. McRoy, Fire Chief, Colleton County Fire-Rescue
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.
A Ruffin (SC) family of six was displaced following a structure fire at 7434 Ruffin Road Friday evening 24-March at 22:20. The family advised they smelled smoke earlier before discovering flames coming from the roof and front porch. Colleton County Fire-Rescue Engine 18 arrived to find the single-story, wood-frame structure well involved with flames coming from the roof at the front and rear of the building and from several windows. All six occupants, two adults and four children, escaped without injury. Two canines perished in the fire.
Firefighters used a deck gun and deployed two 1-3/4 handlines. They had the fire under control within 25 minutes, but were on scene performing overhaul for four hours. The home suffered extensive damage and the family lost most belongings. Water supply was handled with a tender shuttle. The fire appears to have started in electrical wiring in the area of the attic near the front porch. The Red Cross is assisting the family.
Engine 10, Engine 18, Tender 4, Tender 15, Tender 18, Tender 23, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 18, Medic 26, Rescue 1, Squad 23, Battalion 1, Car 27, and Car 109 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as incident commander.
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
