County and State Forestry Firefighters had a busy weekend with dry conditions and moderate winds fueling multiple woods fires throughout the county. In addition to other responses, units responded to eleven woods fires between 12:19 and 18:54.  

12:19 / 11-00553 / 456 Cottonwood Lane – Approx 6 acres burned, endangering two structures. Firefighters protected both buildings and several vehicles preventing any property damage from the fire.  Four stations and one Forestry Tractor responded and were on the scene for 1-1/2 hours. Engine 19, Engine 26, Tender 5, Tender 19, Tender 26 , Medic 19, Medic 26, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Engineer-EMT-I Scott O’Quinn initially served as Incident Commander, which was later transferred to Battalion Chief Ben Heape.

1:04 PM / 11-00554 / 14316 Lowcountry Hwy – A ¼ acre yard fire which was contained to the property. Engine 18, Engine 31,  Brush 31, Medic 18 and Car 118 responded. Fire Commissioner Jerry Breland served as Incident Commander.

1:08 PM / 11-00555 / 3206 Cross Swamp Road – An unattended trash fire that spread to adjacent property and causing damage to one home. Several acres of land were burned and damage to the home was contained to the wooden front porch. Engine 10, Engine 15, Brush 15, Medic 18 and Forestry units responded. Firefighter Jared Polk served as Incident Commander.

1:30 PM / 11-00556 / 333 Crystal Lane –An unattended debris fire spread into two yards, but was contained before any property was damaged. Firefighters kept the fire from reaching several homes. Engine 1 and Medic 1 responded. Engineer-Paramedic Pam Berry served as Incident Commander.   

1:57 PM / 11-00558 / 4977 Wiggins Road – A yard debris fire got out of control, burned through the yard at the residence and spread into the adjacent woods. Firefighters prevented the fire from reaching any structures. Engine 6, Tender 2, Brush 2, Medic 6 and Forestry units responded. Engineer-Paramedic Paul Harrelson served as Incident Commander.

3:03 PM / 11-00559 / Unattended yard fire spread to the woods from a residence in the 1000 block of Clover Hill Road and resulted in an over 100 acre woods fire that burned over to Ritter Road and endangered multiple structures. A structural assignment was dispatched to the incident and two Forestry tractors were also assigned to the call. One Forestry brush unit also responded. Firefighters kept the fire from reaching any homes. A Forestry Commission plane provided surveillance and direction to units on the ground during the incident. Firefighters were on the scene for over six hours.  Visibility on Ritter Road was at zero, so the Firefighters had the Sheriff’s Office close Ritter Road between Catholic Hill and Possum Corner Road for about 2 hours. Engine 1, Engine 6, Engine 22,  Tender 1, Tender 6, Tender 12, Tender 22, Brush 2, Medic 1, Medic 6, Battalion 1, Car 12, 2 Forestry Tractors, 1 Forestry Ranger and a Forestry plane responded. Battalion Chief Ben Heape and Forest Ranger Kip Terry had Joint Command.

3:08 PM / 11-00560 / 714 Turkey Hill Lane – A yard debris fire that got out of control burned one yard and began burning the adjacent woods. The fire was quickly contained to the yard of origin. Tender 2 responded. Captain Shane Rushton served as Incident Commander.  

5:00 PM / 11-00564 / 1305 Brittlebank Road – an unattended yard debris fire spread from a residence on Koth Street, burning through five yards over to Scott Court and then to a residence on Brittlebank Road. One wooden fence received moderate damage, but firefighters were able to keep the fire from reaching any homes. Engine 19, Brush 24 and Forestry units responded. Captain Scott Feather served as Incident Commander.

5:09 PM / 11-00565 / 4950 Beulah Road – A trash fire got out of control burning one yard. Engine 7 quickly contained the fire. Engine 7 responded. Captain John Graham served as Incident Commander.   

5:18 PM / 11-00566 / 131 Windy Hill Lane – An unattended yard debris fire spread to a storage building and then a mobile home. The fire destroyed the 10x10 storage building and caused moderate damage to the mobile home.

6:54 PM / 11-00569 / Several small grass fires were discovered along the 24000 block of Lowcountry Hwy. Engine 7 was able to quickly extinguish the fires before they spread to adjacent property. Captain John Graham served as Incident Commander.