Crews battle 6 home fires in a week in Aiken County
BELVEDERE, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Crews battled six fires in Trenton, Belvedere, Aiken, Graniteville and Wagener in a week, we learned on Friday morning.
In the most recent fire, Aiken County dispatch says crews responded to a home fire on Justee Lane in Trenton around 8:50 a.m. on Friday.
The homeowner told officials she saw flames coming from the roof.
Dispatch says there are no injuries and everyone made it out of the residence.
Aiken County dispatch says crews rushed to a home fire on North View Street in Belvedere on Wednesday around 3 a.m.
Belvedere Chief Chad Hyler told us one person who was inside the home had minor burns and was transported to the hospital.
There were no other victims and none of the surrounding buildings were impacted.
The victim woke up to smoke and ran to a neighbor to get help, Hyler says.
Hyler said he believed the fire was caused by a space heater.
Hyler told us the home was a total loss except for the kitchen.
A caller told us that there was possibly a dog that died in the fire, however, officials didn’t mention the dog.
Aiken County dispatch says crews were on the scene of a home fire on Sanders Drive in Belvedere at 10:15 a.m.
The Belvedere Fire Chief C. Hyler told us the started in the back bedroom and the attic.
Hyler said it was most likely an electrical fire.
No one was home at the time, and the homeowners were notified, the chief says.
“There’s some work to do, but (the home) was not a total loss,” Hyler said.
Dominion Energy and Aiken County Fire Department also responded to the scene.
Aiken City Department Public Safety dispatch told us they responded to a fully-involved home fire on Boothe Road off of New Bridge Road.
Dispatch told us there were no injuries reported and no surrounding buildings were in danger when they were still on the scene at 5:50 a.m.
When we arrived on the scene, crews had shut down New Bridge Road at Wire Road and would not let us through due to the active fire at 6:40 a.m.
Volunteers with the American Red Cross are assisting a family whose home, located on Stone Drive, was damaged by a fire on Sunday.
The Red Cross is helping three people by providing financial assistance for needs such as food, clothing, and shelter, along with other resources.
Volunteers with the American Red Cross are assisting a family whose home, located on Jeffcoat Road, was damaged by a fire on Saturday.
The Red Cross is helping four people by providing financial assistance for needs such as food, clothing, and shelter, along with other resources.
In South Carolina, The Red Cross responds to an average of 6 home fires every day. In the colder months, there is unfortunately a 30% increase in home fires.
“Home fires are a real threat to communities across South Carolina year-round, especially during the winter months,” said Yolanda Gainwell, Interim CEO for the Red Cross of South Carolina. “We at the Red Cross are urging families to take home fire safety steps to keep your family safe this winter.”
Over in Saluda County, American Red Cross disaster-trained volunteers are assisting a family whose home, located on Huckleberry Finn Road in Batesburg, was damaged by a fire Tuesday.
The Red Cross is helping three people by providing financial assistance for immediate needs such as food, clothing, and shelter, along with referrals to much needed resources.
Swainsboro Fire Chief es away just months after retirement
Swainsboro Fire Chief es away just months after retirement
Swainsboro’s Fire Chief ed away on Sunday, according to the City of Swainsboro Facebook page.
HOW TO SAFELY HEAT YOUR HOME:
- If you must use a space heater, never leave it unattended. Place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface, such as a ceramic tile floor. Don’t place it on rugs and carpets, or near bedding and drapes.
- Plug space heater power cords directly into outlets — never into an extension cord. Turn the space heater off every time you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Keep children, pets and anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment.
- Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
- Never leave a fire burning in the fireplace unattended. Make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home. Use a glass or metal fire screen to keep embers in the fireplace.
- Have furnaces, chimneys, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves inspected annually by a professional and cleaned if necessary.
If you would like to help you can donate to American Red Cross Disaster Relief.
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