GEORGETOWN, SC (WCBD / WBTW) – The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and other agencies are investigating a fire that destroyed a Georgetown church Thursday night.
According to Georgetown County Fire Battalion Chief David Geney, firefighters received the first call about the fire on Pennyroyal Road at 7:30 p.m. The Awendaw-McClellanville Fire District says the fire happened at Cumberland AME Church, located at 7650 Pennyroyal Rd. A tweet posted by the department says it has sent a water tender to assist in operations.
“First crew got on scene at 7:33,” Geney said. “Working structure fire. At the time, called for additional resources from our two neighboring departments and another ladder truck, also.”
In all, Geney estimates that 75 firefighters were called to the scene to help douse the flames.
It took firefighters about two and a half hours to gain control of the fire. Crews remained on the scene late into the night as they controlled a number of hot spots.
Geney says that the fire started during a thunderstorm. It was not immediately clear if the building was struck by lightning.
Fire officials say no one was hurt.
Georgetown County records suggest that a church has stood at the property since at least 1901.
