By HEATHER RUPPE
High winds during last weekend helped to spread a brush fire across an open field near Walterboro, leading fire officials to work for hours protecting houses from the approaching flames.
The fire began on Sunday, Feb. 6th at about 3:30 p.m. along the 500 block of Pellum Road. According to Colleton County Fire-Rescue Chief Barry McRoy, the fire started by accident, when a man dropped a piece of burning paper into the field. The flame quickly spread, turning into a woods and brush fire.
Several nearby houses were threatened by the flames.
“Engine 1 arrived to find the rapidly spreading fire and requested two additional stations and units from the S.C. Forestry Commission,” said McRoy.
One fire truck tried to extinguish the flames from the driveway of a residence, while another fire engine tackled the fire from the south side. Firefighters used hand tools and backpacks to also fight the fire, while crews from the S.C. Forestry Commission used two tractors to plow a break around the fire.
“The combined effort kept the fire from reaching any of the structures,” said McRoy.
All firefighting units were on the scene for several hours.
McRoy said low humidity and high winds are to blame for the blaze spreading so quickly.
