COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – The Colleton County Fire Department responded to a structure fire Tuesday morning on Azalea Drive.
According to Colleton County Fire Chief Barry McRoy, two adults and two children narrowly escaped an early morning fire at the 400 block of Azalea Drive. The report states that one block from the scene a resident could see flames coming from the roof of the house.
While Fire-Rescue units were arriving, the occupants of the home were awaken by the smoke inside the house, McRoy added.
The adults quickly awakened the children and all four occupants climbed out of the master bedroom window to safety. The home did not have any working smoke detectors, according to the report.
Colleton County Engine 26 arrived a short time later reporting flames coming from the roof over the garage and heavy smoke conditions throughout the single story home.
The Firefighter-Paramedics verified with the occupants that everyone was safely out of the home. McRoy stated that crews deployed multiple hand lines to the building, with one crew attacking the fire through the garage, while a second crew forced entry through the front door.
According to the report, the fire had entered the kitchen area from the garage, but interior crews quickly gained control of the fire. The flames had also spread through the attic, burning over the bedrooms.
Firefighters pulled the ceiling in several rooms to reach the flames and extinguish the fire. It was contained mostly to the garage, kitchen and attic. The majority of the structure and most personal items in the remainder of the home were saved.
No injuries were reported.
The fire appears to have originated in the utility room off of the garage and is believed to have been electrical in nature, McRoy stated. Units were on the scene for four hours.
The Red Cross is assisting the family.