Colleton County Fire-Rescue

1/28/2010

Stations 1, 8, 12, 19, 26 and 27 responded to a structure fire at 505 Gadsden Loop at 0452, Thursday morning 28-January. Engine 1 reported heavy fire conditions in a one story brick veneer structure, with two vehicles on fire.  Most of the fire was contained to an enclosed garage on the “D” side of the building, but had entered two rooms of the living area and extended into the attic. The family was awaked by smoke detectors in their home. This gave them early warning of the fire, allowing precious minutes for them to escape unharmed. Engine 1 used the deck gun to knock down the fire as firefighters deployed two 1-3/4 handlines during an interior attack. Crews were hampered by the layout of the building, which had two additions and a second roof over the original structure. Firefighters knocked down the heaviest part of the fire within 20 minutes, but spent several hours performing overhaul due to the heavy fire load inside the structure and multiple void spaces created by the additions. A third handline was deployed after fire vented from a roof attachment over one of the additions. Firefighters used a chainsaw and a K-12 saw to remove a portion of the roof. Units were on the scene for 4-1/2 hours. Most of the building was saved and many personal items were spared. Most of the structure suffered

smoke, heat and water damage. Investigators have determined the fire originated in the enclosed garage from an extension cord.

Engine 1, Engine 24, Tender 1, Tender 8, Tender 19, Tender 27, Medic 19, Medic 27, Battalion 1, Truck 12 and Truck 16 responded. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as Incident Commander.