By HEATHER RUPPE
Firefighters battled two fires inside the former Dayco plant in Walterboro last week, as firemen on scene reported seeing flames as high as 10-feet coming from the vacant building’s roof.
A fire crew returning to Station 19 near Walterboro at about 3:15 p.m. on Jan. 20th first spotted flames and smoke coming from the roof of the now vacant Dayco Plant, which is located on Thunderbolt Drive in Walterboro. Those firefighters notified 911-dispatch and went to the scene. There, they found flames extending 10-feet from the roof.
“Moderate winds were carrying black smoke around the area and could be seen three miles from the scene,” said Colleton County Fire-Rescue Chief Barry McRoy.
Once inside, McRoy said firefighters found light smoke in the building.
The fire resulted from a construction crew using a torch to dismantle equipment inside the building. The torch ignited residual glue that was located in a vent pipe, where the flames were coming from.
A second fire had also started inside, on the floor near where the construction equipment was being used. “Both fires were quickly extinguished, with little damage to the building,” said McRoy.
No one was injured in the fires.
According to McRoy, the Fire Marshal’s Office is “addressing safety concerns” with the contractor, as work inside the building will continue.
