01/01/2011 – “A” Shift – Structure Fire with injuries

Incident # 11-00035 – An explosion in a work shop has resulted in a Walterboro man being sent to the Augusta Burn Center. At 2049 Saturday 01-January, 9-1-1 operators received several reports of an explosion in the 200 block of Enterprise Street. Additional reports indicated a large fire with a man being burned. Engine 19 and Medic 19 arrived 6 minutes later to find a fully involved work shop at the rear of the property of 206 Enterprise Street. A 45 year old male suffered multiple burns on his arms, neck and head. Firefighter-Paramedics treated the man, while other crew members deployed one 1-3/4 handline to extinguish the fire. The explosion completely destroyed the wooden structure, set an adjacent wooded area on fire, as well as setting a car and multiple riding lawn mowers ablaze. Firefighters had the fire under control in about 15 minutes. The fire appears to have started due to a leaking LP cylinder inside the workshop. The tank was connected to a gas heater. The man had just entered the building when the explosion occurred, however he did not receive any apparent traumatic injuries from the blast. He was treated at the scene, then transported by Medic 19 to Colleton Medical Center. He was later transferred by private ambulance to the Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta Georgia. Fire units were on the scene for 1-1/2 hours.

Engine 1, Engine 19, Tender 1, Tender 26, Tender 26, Medic 19, Medic 26, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.