Three arson fires have occurred on a half mile stretch of Lowcountry Hwy on the north end of Smoaks. The first was reported 28-May at 0239 in a vacant mobile home located at 27795 Lowcountry Hwy. Firefighters arrived quickly and extinguished the fire preserving evidence for SLED investigators. The second fire occurred 30-June at 0325 in a 90 year old building being used as a church. The church sat only 50 feet from the mobile home where the first fire occurred. An addition to the building was heavily damaged, but firefighters stop the spread of the fire and saved the majority of the main building. SLED agents, Sheriff’s Office personnel, agents from the Bureau of ATF and FBI responded to the fire. The next day (1-July) another vacant mobile was set ablaze at 28198 Lowcountry Hwy, only a few blocks north of the other two fires. Firefighters arrived within minutes and contained the fire to the interior of the mobile home. SLED was contacted before the fire was even extinguished and had agents on the scene within the hour.

A suspect was detained and held in the Colleton County Detention Center. He was formally charged with the crimes listed above on Wednesday. As the investigation continues, Law Enforcement personnel continue to work the cases in a joint effort to bring this criminal to justice and the people of Smoaks are sleeping a little easier this week.