09/02/2011 – Structure Fire with Injuries – “B” Shift

A morning house fire claimed the life of two dogs and resulted in two people being sent to the hospital. Fire-Rescue was notified of a house on fire at 494 Carolina Circle at 10:12 Friday, 02-September. Engine 19 arrived minutes later to find a single story brick veneer structure with flames visible through the roof on the “D” side of the building. A woman who jumped from a rear window was found bleeding in a neighbor’s driveway and a male, also bleeding, was found near the front yard. Both occupants had been inside the structure when the fire was discovered and ran through the smoke filled home to escape. The woman forced open a rear bedroom window, jumping through the broken glass about six feet to safety. She received multiple, long deep lacerations and was bleeding profusely. The man exited through another route, possible through a glass front door and received a laceration to his leg. Firefighter-Paramedics on Medic 19 treated the woman at the scene, bandaging her wounds to control the large amount of blood loss. Multiple IVs were started and she was transported to Colleton Medical Center to meet with the Lifenet 4 helicopter.

Lifenet flew the woman to the Trauma Center at MUSC. Both were also suffering from smoke inhalation. Medic 1 treated the male patient and transported him to Colleton Medical Center for further treatment.

Firefighters deployed one 1-3/4 handline from Engine 19 through the front door. They worked their way through the living room to the kitchen and were able to quickly knock down the fire in an addition off of the kitchen. The flames had spread to the attic, so crews pulled the ceiling down in the kitchen and living room to extinguish the fire in the attic. The fire was contained to the west end of the home, sparing any heavy fire damage to the bedrooms. Most of the home suffered smoke and heat damage. Firefighters located both canines inside the home. It appeared they died of smoke inhalation. Firefighters buried the animals in the back yard. Due to a suspicious vehicle fire at the same address earlier in the morning, Fire Investigators contacted the SLED Arson Unit to assist in the investigation. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Water supply was conducted with a Tender Shuttle. This was the second time firefighters have saved this residence.

A fire on the “B” side of the structure damaged a bedroom and caused smoke damage throughout the building in July of 2003.

Engine 1, Engine 19, Tender 1, Tender 19, Tender 26, Tender 27, Medic 1, Medic 19, Battalion 1, Car 12, Car 116 and Car 119 responded. Lt. Joseph Campbell served as Incident Commander.