28/January/2015 – Structure and Woods Fire – “A” Shift

Incident # 15-00526 – Two buildings were destroyed and a third received extensive damage in a midafternoon fire at 8837 Lowcountry Highway (US Hwy 21) Wednesday 28-Janaury. At 12:38, 9-1-1 Operators began receiving reports of a building on fire at this location. Engine 13 arrived to find three buildings ablaze, a rapidly moving multi-acre woods fire driven by moderate winds and a residential dwelling endangered. Firefighter-Paramedics deployed multiple handlines to combat the structure fires. Another responding Engine was directed to the head of the woods fire and a Forestry Tractor was requested. One team of firefighters worked on a 15x25 wood frame work shop and an exterior storage building, while another crew worked to extinguish a well involved 24x40 garage. Multiple vehicles including a tractor, ATVs, a pontoon boat and farm implements were destroyed in the large garage. The outside storage building was completely destroyed, but firefighters stopped the fire in the workshop, however the interior was gutted and all of the tools and equipment inside was heavily damaged.  Firefighters prevented the fire from reaching the residence, but the fire also damaged a second boat on the property and a swimming pool. Approximately seven acres of woods were burned south of the location.

Firefighters cut the head of the fire off before it reached Shiloh Loop and the Forestry Commission tractor cut a fire line completely around the remaining woods fire. Sheriff’s Deputies controlled traffic on the rural highway due to fire apparatus staged and working on the roadway. Units were on the scene for three hours. The cause of the fire appears to have been electrical in nature coming from the workshop. The moderate winds spread the fire through the yard to the other structures and woods.

Engine 13, Engine 29, Tender 13, Tender 15, Tender 18, Tender 27, Tender 29, Medic 13, Medic 18, Battalion 1, Car 105, Car 109 Captain John Schneider served as Incident Commander.