23/November/2012 – Large Woods Fire – “C” Shift

Incident # 12-06406 – A large fast moving woods fire kept Firefighters busy for over two hours Friday afternoon 23-November. At 15:34, Station 9 was dispatched to a woods fire on Rehoboth Road (SC Hwy 651) near Timberbay Road. The fire was reportedly started by a piece of equipment. Engine 9 and Medic 9 arrived to find the fast moving fire in a broom straw field, endangering several homes. Additional units were requested shortly after arrival, with several units added approximately ten minutes later. A tractor from the Forestry Commission also responded. Fire apparatus was positioned to protect the exposures as the wind drove the flames through the field into a swampy area. At one point the fire reached Rehoboth Road. Firefighters thought the fire was going to jump the highway, but the wind shifted keeping the flames in the swamp. The Forestry tractor was able to cut a line around the fire containing it. Law Enforcement Officers from the Sheriff’s Office and Cottageville PD closed a one mile section of Rehoboth Road due to smoke concerns and for the safety of fire crews operating on or near the highway. Approximately 20 acres of field and woods were burned, but no structures were damaged during the incident.

Engine 9, Engine 11, Engine 19, Engine 902, Tender 2, Tender 5, Tender 9, Tender 19, Tender 27, Brush 2, Battalion 1 and Car 12 responded. Lt. Jimmy Jacques served as Incident Commander.