By HEATHER WALTERS
Pet dogs alerted a Walterboro family to a house fire that was raging inside their Platinum Street residence on Tuesday morning.
According to Colleton County Fire-Rescue Chief Barry McRoy, the family of six awoke to the sound of their dogs barking. It was then that the family discovered a fire burning across their front porch.
“Fire-Rescue units arrived minutes later to find the double mobile home approximately 70 percent involved with flames,” said McRoy.
One fire engine used multiple hand lines to fight the fire. Additional firefighters also fought the flames on the porch, while other firemen entered the house through a side door.
“Crews had the fire under control in about 35 minutes, stopping the fire from doing further damage,” said McRoy. “But, we performed overhaul for several hours.”
According to McRoy, the house fire caused damage under the home’s flooring, causing two of the front rooms to completely collapse. The fire also burned into the void space above the ceiling, igniting the roof.
“Firefighters had problems extinguishing the roof due to a metal roof being installed over the old shingles, which made it difficult to reach the burning shingles,” he said. “Most of the interior of the home and most personal belongings were heavily damaged. Crews were on the scene for five hours.”
In addition to the house being damaged, the family’s vehicle, which was parked next to the residence, also received “heavy damage,” he said.
McRoy said the fire started in an exterior electrical outlet on the front porch of the house.
The American Red Cross is helping this family. No one was injured in the blaze.
