Tag Archives: South Carolina

Crews are at 10816 Kings Rd. for a fire that was initially dispatched at 2:56 p.m.

Rescue officials say the fire was extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system before it was able to spread.

There are no reported injuries and this fire is under investigation.

Greer, SC – Mattress fire doused by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

September 20, 2019 viking210

Greer Fire Department says their crews responded to a fire that broke out Thursday evening at a local apartment complex.

The department confirmed their response around 9:30 p.m. to the Avalon Chase complex on Avalon Chase Circle.

Crews later told us a mattress in a bedroom caught fire, and the flames were doused by the sprinkler system. Nobody was injured, but two families are displaced by water and smoke damage. The Red Cross is aiding them.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Hilton Head Island, SC – Fire sprinkler system contains fire to dishwasher at local resort; No injuries reported

July 29, 2019 viking210

A dishwasher was the source of a fire that started Saturday night in a villa unit at Hilton Head Resort, according to Hilton Head Island Rescue spokeswoman Joheida Fister.

It appeared to be a failure of the equipment, she said.

No one was injured in the fire that started about 7:30 p.m.

The building’s fire sprinkler system was activated and kept the fire contained to the dishwasher, she said.

The unit did sustain water damage but little fire damage.

Retail, Shopping Mall

Surfside Beach, SC – Strip mall fire brought under control by fire sprinkler system; No injuries reported

July 16, 2019 viking210

Emergency crews responded to a fire Monday morning at a strip mall in Surfside Beach.

A call came out for a fire at 1610 South Highway 17 Business at 6:39 a.m., according to an online post from Horry County Fire Rescue.

The fire was brought under control with the help of the building’s sprinkler system. The building was also worked for possible hot spots and ventilated during the overhaul process, the post states.

There were no reports of injuries.

The cause of the blaze was not immediately known.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Columbia, SC – Overnight arson fire at Walmart held in check by sprinkler system

April 23, 2019 viking210

Blog Editor Note: Fire sprinkler system SAVED the store and minimized fire damage. Store re-opened three days later, allowing employees to return to work.

Media Report: Two men have been charged with second-degree arson in connection with Tuesday’s fire that caused $3 million in damages at the Harbison Walmart, according to police. Steven D. Edwards, 41, and Bobby J. Murphy Jr., 46, are being held at the Lexington County Detention Center, police said. The fire happened Tuesday around 3 a.m. at the Walmart that sits just off Harbison Boulevard near Interstate 26. When crews arrived, heavy smoke filled the store and flames covered one of the food aisles, Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins told The State.

The store’s sprinkler system kept the fire in check, Jenkins said. Still, the fire, which investigators believe started in one of the food aisles, caused “significant” damage to inventory and the store. A few employees and customers were inside the building during the fire, but no one was injured, authorities said. The Walmart re-opened Friday. The Columbia Police Department said tips from Crimestoppers of the Midlands and Lexington County Sheriff’s Department helped find Edwards and Murphy.

The men will be transferred to Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, where a bond hearing will be held. Police had also announced a third person of interest in connection with the fire. A woman arrived with the two suspects in an older, green SUV, police said, but no arrest was announced. Both suspects have prior unrelated convictions. Edwards pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana and receiving stolen goods in 2018, court records show. In 2009 and 2016, Murphy pleaded guilty to charges of domestic violence, cruelty to children, and manufacturing methamphetamine, according to records. The 2016 meth charge was suspended from 5 years in prison to 2 years probation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Florence, SC – Sprinkler system kept stove fire in check until fire crews arrived

April 3, 2019 viking210

One Florence apartment suffered slight fire and some water damage while 23 others in the same building escaped damage Sunday afternoon.

Howe Springs firefighters responded shortly after 1:30 p.m. to Charles Pointe Apartments to a reported kitchen fire.

A resident cooking lunch either left it unattended or it boiled over onto the stove and it caught fire, said Howe Springs Fire Chief William Dillon.

The building’s sprinkler system kept the fire in check until firefighters arrived and extinguished it, Dillon said. The building’s fire alarm system alerted every other resident in the building to evacuate.

Dillon said firefighters remained on scene to isolate the sprinkler flow to the apartment, salvage threatened content and then help remove water from the first-floor apartment before other apartments could be damaged.

Dillon said the resident will be out of their apartment for several days while repairs are made.

No injuries were reported as a result of the blaze.

Howe Springs responded three engines, a ladder truck and 20 firefighters.

Government/Military, Prison / Jail

Lancaster, SC – Fire in dust collection system in prison wood shop is put out by sprinkler system

February 24, 2019 viking210

A fire broke out in the Kershaw Correctional Institution woodworking shop Tuesday afternoon. Lancaster County Fire Marshal Russell Rogers said the fire started in the dust-collection system in the woodworking shop, located in the back part of the prison complex. The fire started shortly after 1 p.m. and was extinguished by the built-in sprinkler system. The cause of the fire is still unknown, Rogers said Tuesday. There were inmates and officers in the building at the time of the fire and one of the inmates sustained a minor burn injury, Rogers said.

Apartment Building, Residential

Charleston, SC – Sprinkler system activated for porch fire at apartment complex

February 21, 2019 viking210

Port Royal fire crews respond to a porch fire at a Lowcountry apartment on Friday morning.

Firefighters with the City of Beaufort-Town of Port Royal Fire Department and the Burton Fire District responded to the 1000 building at the Preserve at Port Royal apartment community.

Upon their arrival, fire crews say found a porch fire on the second story of the apartment building.

Fire crews say “damage was mostly limited to the porch but the heat also broke the windows between the porch and the apartment so there was smoke and minor heat damaga inside the apartment along with some water damage.”

Deputy chief of operations, Tim Ogden, says porch fires are an area of concern for the fire crew

“At the time these units were constructed the code required a residential sprinkler system which is in each apartment here,” Ogden said. “However, residential systems are designed by code to save lives by giving occupants time to escape a fire, not fully protect the property. The code did not require a sprinkler head on the porch and these porches are thus unprotected and susceptible to fire damage.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Johns Island, SC – Apartment kitchen fire contained by single sprinkler

February 18, 2019 viking210

Charleston’s Fire Marshal Division responded to a report about a fire in an apartment building on Reva Ridge Drive in Johns Island around 3 p.m. Thursday. Firefighters arrived in less than five minutes to the three-story apartment building, according to officials.

“Smoke was venting from a first floor unit and crews rapidly entered the home to discover a smoldering fire in the kitchen area,” according to the department. The occupant of the apartment was not home, however a passersby noticed smoke venting from the apartment and notified property management and 911, according to officials.

“A single fire sprinkler head activated and contained the fire damage to the kitchen,” the department states. “Investigators determined the fire originated in the kitchen and was likely caused by a coffee maker.”

Emergency responders included the Charleston, St. John’s Fire District, James Island PSD Fire Department, North Charleston Fire Department, Charleston County EMS and City of Charleston Police Department. One tenant was displaced as a result of the incident and no injuries were reported.

Apartment Building, Residential