Colleton County Fire-Rescue

October 2015

 

31/October/2015 – Trunk or Treat with Sheriff’s Office

Fire-Rescue participated in the Sheriff’s Office’s Trunk or Treat event held at the Sheriff’s Office on South Miller Street Saturday afternoon 31-October. The event began at 14:00 with each division of the Department decorating a vehicle and several outside agencies, including the Walterboro Police Dept, Safe Kids, McClure’s Wrecker Service and Fire-Rescue participating as well. South Miller Street was closed between Carn St and Hampton Street so the vehicles could be set up. Click here for more information.

31/October/2015 – MVC with Air Evac – “A” Shift

A 46 year old Walterboro man suffered multiple traumatic injuries after he crashed his moped in the 100 block of Ritter Road Saturday afternoon 31-October at 13:50. Firefighter-Paramedics found the man semi-conscious lying in the middle of Ritter Road with the moped on top of him. Crews removed the motorized cycle and began treating the patient. A medical helicopter was placed on standby due to suspected head injuries. Click here for more information.
Important training opportunity! 
The 3rd Annual Lowcountry Fire & EMS Weekend is being held next weekend Nov. 6, 7 & 8.  Several classroom and Hands On (H.O.T.) classes are being offered. For specific information, visit
www.lcfems.com  The event location is Colleton County Middle School in Walterboro, S.C.
If you have questions, please contact
Scott Feather at sfeather@colletoncounty.org.

30/October/2015 – Structure Fire – “B” Shift

A singlewide mobile home suffered extensive damage in an early morning structure fire at 78 Shadow Court on Friday morning 30-October. At 03:27, 9-1-1 Operators received several reports of fire coming from a residence at the end of Shadow Court, a small mobile home park located off the 1800 block of Jefferies Hwy north of Walterboro. Engine 19 arrived minutes later to find the singlewide mobile home approximately 40% involved with two nearby mobile homes endangered. Click here for more information.

24/October/2015 – Two Alarm Structure Fire – “C” Shift

A large Ruffin home was destroyed in an evening fire Saturday 24-October. At 21:38, Deputy Chief Greene and his family were returning from a church function, driving east on Bells Highway, when Chief Greene saw a large fire across a field located behind the Ruffin Farm Supply. He notified Central Communications over his portable radio and began trying to locate an access to the fire. Click here for more information.

24/October/2015 – Structure Fire – “C” Shift

A Cottageville family was fortunate Saturday afternoon 24-October after the 220 electrical outlet for their dryer caught fire. The dryer was operating when the incident occurred. The family noticed smoke in the residence and saw flames running up the wall behind the dryer and across the ceiling. They began evacuating the home and contacted 9-1-1 at 15:14. The fire spread behind the dryer and melted the plastic water lines running to the washing machine which extinguished the fire. Click here for more information.

23/October/2015 – Fire & Life Safety Education and Fire Prevention

Fire-Rescue began the month long Fire Prevention and Life Safety Education in the schools on 05-October. The first week was postponed due the Hurricane Joaquin and the heavy flooding in the area. The program actually runs throughout the year with presentations and demonstrations for all age groups, but a concentrated effort to teach the younger school aged children coincides with National Fire Prevention Week during October. Click here for more information.

22/October/2015 – Fatal MVC with Entrapment – “A” Shift

A 45 year old Walterboro man died from injuries he received after being struck by car involved in a separate collision. The accident was reported Thursday afternoon 22-October at 13:48 at the intersection of Robertson Blvd and Rivers Street. Not much information about the accident was provided. Firefighter-Paramedics arrived minutes later to find one car down an embankment, one vehicle laying on its side with two people trapped inside and a male pedestrian lying on the ground near the over-turned car. Click here for more information.

21/October/2015 – Fatal MVC with Entrapment – “C” Shift

An 81 year old North Carolina woman died from injuries received in a high speed single vehicle crash on I-95 near the 40 mile marker southbound, Wednesday afternoon 21-October. Hampton County emergency units were originally dispatched to the incident which occurred within 200 feet of the county line. The initial caller reported one person was trapped, so Hampton County requested mutual aid from Colleton. When units from both agencies arrived, the accident was found to be actually in Colleton County. Click here for more information.

19/October/2015 – MVC with Air Evac – “A” Shift

A 27 year old Summerville man received traumatic injuries in a single car crash in the 200 block of Red Bank Road Monday afternoon 19-October. At 17:30, 9-1-1 Operators received the report of an over-turned pickup truck that had hit a tree. The caller reported the driver was partially ejected from the vehicle. Fire-Rescue units arrived minutes later to find the Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck on its side against a large pine tree. The man was out of the truck, semi-conscious on the ground, suffering from apparent head injuries. Click here for more information.

17/October/2015 – MVC w/entrapment & Air Evac x2 – “A” Shift

Five people from a Massachusetts Church, returning from a mission trip, were injured in a single vehicle accident on I-95 near the 41 mile marker northbound, Saturday morning 17-Oct at 03:56. The 2011 Toyota minivan left the roadway at a high rate of speed, drove down an embankment and struck several trees. The front seat passenger was heavily entrapment in the wreckage. Firefighter-Paramedics from nearby Station 13 arrived within minutes and were confronted with multiple trauma patients, including a baby. Click here for more information.

13/October/2015 – Structure Fire – “A” Shift

County Fire-Rescue and City of Walterboro Firefighters extinguished a well involved house fire Tuesday afternoon 13-October. The initial caller to 9-1-1 only provided an approximate location near the intersection of Rivers Street and Proctor Street, which placed the residence in the 500 block in the County. Fire-Rescue was dispatched to the home at 17:18. While enroute, a Walterboro Police Officer arrived at the location and advised the home was actually located in the City limits in the 400 block of Rivers Street. Click here for more information.

11/October/2015 – Fatal MVC w/entrapment – “A” Shift 

A 38 year old Ruffin man died from injuries he received in a single vehicle accident in the 6800 block of Mount Carmel Road Sunday morning 11-October. Fire-Rescue was notified of the MVC at 03:43. Firefighter-Paramedics arrived to find a 2008 Chevrolet Pickup over-turned in the east bound lane.  The truck received heavy damage after it struck a tree. It appeared the truck was west bound, when it dropped off of the roadway and over-corrected. Click here for more information.
09/October/2015 - Mutual Aid to Richland and Georgetown Counties

Colleton County sent units and personnel to Columbia and Georgetown to assist those counties through a SC Firefighter Mobilization request. This was the second and third deployment related to the massive flooding that occurred in the State during the past week. Tender 19 was assigned to Georgetown County Fire-EMS for three days, while Tender 27 was deployed to Columbia-Richland County Fire Dept for three days. Click here for more information.

08/October/2015 – Flooding Thursday

The historic rain fall and run off from the midlands region was still causing heavy flooding in low areas and along the Edisto River. The Edisto was expected to crest on Friday. Fire-Rescue, the Sheriff’s Office, DNR and Virginia Task Force 2 continued to patrol the roads and communities by land and river, using 4x4 trucks and small boats.  Fire-Rescue and two Sheriff’s Office boats escorted damage assessment teams from FEMA and the County Assessor’s Office to several inaccessible areas most of the day Thursday. Click here for more information.

07/October/2015 – Auto vs Pedestrian – “A” Shift

A 14 year old male was injured after the bicycle he was riding was struck by a pickup truck at the intersection of Green Pond Hwy and South Jefferies Blvd Wednesday afternoon 07-October at 16:33. The pickup truck left the scene. The boy was knocked to the grass shoulder, while the bike received moderate damage. Firefighter-Paramedics treated the patient for multiple non-life threatening traumatic injuries, including injuries to his arm and ankle. Click here for more information.

07/October/2015 – Structure Fire – “C” Shift

A Johnsville residence was fortunate Wednesday morning 07-October after her home filled with smoke a little before 07:00. She quickly exited the home and had a neighbor call 9-1-1. Fire-Rescue units arrived within minutes to the residence on the corner of Strawberry Farm Rd and Community Ave, to find light smoke coming from the singlewide mobile home. Firefighters deploy one 1-3/4 handline and discovered the fire in a bathroom near the center of the structure. Click here for more information.  

05/October/2015 – MVC with Entrapment – “B” Shift

A two car accident sent two people to the hospital Monday evening Oct 5 at 19:54. A PT Cruiser and Lexis collided in the 900 block of South Jefferies Blvd trapping a 44 yr old female in the Lexus. A 12 yr old boy in the car also received minor injuries and did not require ambulance transport. He was released to his father, who was not in the vehicle. Both occupants were wearing seatbelts. The female suffered multiple, non-life threatening traumatic injuries. Click here for more information.

05-October-2015 – Flooding continues (Monday)

The State continues to deal with record rainfall and flooding, especially in the Pee Dee, Midlands and Lowcountry Regions. Charleston to Columbia and most counties in between are covered with water and suffering major washouts and bridge failures. Interstate 95 was closed from Interstate 26 north of St George to Interstate 20 in Florence. Other major roads such as Hwy 301, Hwy 15, Hwy 52 and portions of Hwy 17 are closed as well, presenting many problems for travelers and hampering emergency units reaching some people in need.  Click here for more information.

04/October/2015 – Mutual Aid to Columbia

Over the weekend, the State suffered what has been termed a 1000 year event, receiving record rain fall from Hurricane Joaquin and another weather system, which caused dam failures and severe flooding across South Carolina. The State Capital was swamped with record flooding, dam breeches, closed roads and a failure of the Columbia water system due to broken mains. A request from the State Firefighters Mobilization sent many resources from around the state to Columbia. Click here for more information.

03/October/2015 – Hurricane Joaquin, Rains & Flooding

Hurricane Joaquin brought heavy rains to the Lowcountry beginning Saturday which caused local flooding and multiple MVCs, especially on Interstate 95. Two additional crews were called in to staff one Engine and an additional ambulance to assist with the increased call volume. Accidents were so numerous that crews began tying yellow fire line tape to the cars to identify which accidents had already been checked. Click here for more information.
10/6/2015- Edisto River Update
If you live in a low lying area close to the Edisto River, you are in danger and should consider evacuating now.  You could be inaccessible to Fire-Rescue for more than a week.  If you have a fire or medical emergency, it could take a significant amount of time for emergency services to reach you.  We have already experienced a medical emergency with a patient that could not be reached by ambulance.  Your safety is important to us.  Please consider leaving now before the waters crest and remain dangerously high for weeks.

According to the National Weather Service hydrologists' predictions, the Edisto River will crest around the 10th or 11th at 16.4 feet (but could be slightly higher or lower).  The crest will remain at 16.4 feet until the 13th or 14th at Givhans Landing (where the gauge is) and it could be that high (or higher) south of the gauge until the 15th or 16th.  A one foot rise in water represents a 60% increase in flow.  It is not anticipated that the gauge will be below 10 feet (flood stage) until sometime between the 21st and 23rd.  The areas south of the gauge could be a day or two after the 23rdThis prediction is also based on us receiving no new precipitation through the 23rd.

10/4/2015-  All Colleton County Residents:  The accumulation of rain over the last several days will be compounded by the water runoff from higher elevations that have also received historic amounts of rain .  If you live in a low lying area, an area close to a river, stream, or creek, or an area prone to flooding, you should consider evacuating now.  As of this afternoon at 1:00 pm, the Edisto River was at a height of 8.17 feet.  Flood stage is at 10.0 feet.  The Edisto River will be above flood stage shortly after 1:00 am tomorrow (Monday) morning, in less than 12 hours.  The National Weather Service (click here) projects that the river could crest at 16 feet by Wednesday afternoon.  This level, six feet above flood stage, represents a potentially life threatening level.  Fire-Rescue and Sheriff’s Office personnel may have a very difficult time reaching you in the aforementioned areas during this time if you experience an emergency.  If you live along any of the rivers or creeks in Colleton County and are already experiencing mild to moderate flooding, it is likely to get much worse over the next 1 to 5 days.  You should consider evacuating now, while it is still safe to do so.
If you are in a safe area, please remain at home as some of the roads in Colleton County are unsafe.
  Should you have to travel, do not cross roads that are covered with water.  Turn around, don’t drown.
For non-emergency issues or questions, contact the Sheriff’s office at 843-549-2211.
  As always, if you experience an emergency, dial 9-1-1.

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