Colleton County Fire-Rescue

1/25/2010

Station 27 responded as mutual aid to the City of Walterboro Public Safety Department in 1000 block of South Jefferies Blvd at the Silhouette Café at 0138, Monday 25-Janaury. A State Trooper drove by the business and noticed smoke coming from the building. City Fire units arrived to find heavy smoke conditions with fire visible from the rear of the structure. The incident occurred during a fierce thunderstorm producing high winds and blinding rain. County and City firefighters made entry through the rear of the structure and knocked the fire down in a hallway between the kitchen and dining area. The fire had extended into the void space above the restaurant. During renovations, a second slopped roof had been added over the original flat roof. The fire had burned through the flat roof and was burning throughout the area between the two roofs. Firefighters were able to enter the area in several places and combat the fire with two 1-3/4 handlines. The fire was under control within thirty minutes. County crews utilized two Thermal Imaging Cameras to pinpoint the fire extension. This improved the fire attack and caused less damage to the interior of the building. The main portion of the structure, dining room and kitchen suffered little fire damage, however the structure suffered water damage throughout the building. The fire appears to have started in the area of the breaker boxes. Fire units remained on the scene for three hours.  

Walterboro Engines 1, 2 and 3 responded. County Fire-Rescue responded with Medic 27, Battalion 1, Truck 11 and Truck 12. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander of County Fire-Rescue units.