By HEATHER RUPPE
The number of fires happening in Colleton County continues, this time in a rural residence in the Canadys community.
A house on Prairie Lane near Canadys was destroyed by a fire on Monday, March 14th. The homeowner told local fire officials that he heard noises and opened the back door, where he found the rear porch of his house fully engulfed in flames. The man got his family out of the house safely and then called 911. Units arrived and found the single-family house “fully involved,” with the roof of the house already collapsing, according to Colleton County Fire-Rescue Chief Barry McRoy.
“Firefighters had the blaze under control in about 30 minutes, but were on the scene for three and half hours performing overhaul,” he said.
According to McRoy, the fire also damaged two vehicles that were parked near the family’s house.
The family lost all of their belongings, but no one was injured in the fire.
The American Red Cross is assisting this family with temporary shelter and with clothing.
McRoy said the cause of the fire appears to be “electrical in nature.”
More than 40 fires have happened in Colleton County in the last three weeks. Most of these have been the result of unattended outdoor burning or brush fires that have ran out of control; however, some of the fires, like this one, have been because of electrical problems.
