For The Press and Standard
A home was destroyed, and the occupant was injured in an early morning fire at 495 Weiss Lane Monday in the Green Pond Community June 19 at 05:51. The male occupant advised he was awakened by the sound of breaking glass and discovered the older two story wooden structure was on fire. The man was barely able to exit the burning home. The house was well involved, but he attempted to reenter the residence to rescue his 28 year old speaking parrot. The flames and smoke prevented him from reaching the bird and the man suffered smoke inhalation and second degree burns. The parrot perished in the fire. He then ran half a mile down Weiss Lane to the Balchem Plant to ask for assistance and called 9-1-1. The structure collapsed shortly after Fire Units arrived. The occupant, who was covered in ash and soot complained of difficulty breathing. He was treated at the scene by Firefighter-Paramedics, then transported to Colleton Medical Center. He suffered airway burns and was treated at CMC with advanced airway care. No helicopters could fly due to severe thunderstorms in the area. Fire-Rescue Medic 1 responded to the ED at CMC and with the CARE Flight Flightcrew, transported the man emergent to the Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta Georgia. He was in critical condition. The home was completely destroyed and the man lost all of his belongings. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
