By HEATHER RUPPE
A Colleton County man lost his house to a weekend fire.
Firefighter-paramedics were called to the 5500-block of Pierce Road on Saturday, July 17th, where they found a mobile home completely engulfed with flames. A neighbor initially called 911 at about 12:13 p.m. after the homeowner ran to his neighbor’s house, asking for help.
“His phone was inside the home and he was not able to immediately call for assistance,” Colleton County Fire-Rescue Chief Barry McRoy said, of the man’s reason to run next door to ask for help.
According to McRoy, a fire engine arrived at the man’s house about 10 minutes after the 911-call was made. “The doublewide mobile home was fully involved” with flames, said McRoy.
“Firefighter-Paramedics used a deck gun to knock down the flames, then deployed multiple handlines to extinguish the fire. But, crews were hampered after the roof collapsed and they had to remove two layers of metal roof coverings to begin performing overhaul,” said McRoy.
According to McRoy, the problem with the roof collapsing was because the house had three roofs: one shingle roof and then metal ones that were installed on top of each other.
Professionals had to use a winch from a fire-rescue vehicle to help pull the metal roofing material from off the home. “Fire units were on the scene for four-and-half hours,” said McRoy.
The cause of the fire is believed to be electrical, with the fire starting near the center of the house, said McRoy, but the official cause is still under investigation by local authorities.
No one was injured in this blaze.
