Two weekend fires displace Pritchardville residents

Bluffton, SC (September 13, 2023, 9:00 a.m. EDT) – Over the weekend, firefighters from Bluffton Township Fire District responded to two separate house fires in the Pritchardville area. The first home suffered a total loss while the second sustained significant damage. No injuries were reported in either incident, but the fires have displaced the owners of both homes.

The first fire broke out Saturday afternoon on Stoney Hill Loop off Palmetto Bluff Rd. The home’s owner was at work at the time and a neighbor saw flames and smoke coming from the house. The neighbor’s call to the 911 dispatch center resulted in a four-minute response from firefighters. On arrival, firefighters found the home to be fully engulfed with a partial collapse of the roof. The home’s location in heavy brush overgrowth and a thick tree canopy made fire suppression difficult. The cause of the fire was undetermined.

Lightning struck a home Sunday afternoon on Pine View Dr. in the May River Preserve subdivision causing the second fire in the area. The homeowner called dispatch and reported he could see and smell smoke coming from an upstairs bedroom. All occupants safely evacuated the home before fire crews arrived seven minutes later. Firefighters were able to save the home, but the resultant fire caused significant structural damage to the roof and attic areas.

The National Fire Protection Association reports that nearly 3 out of 5 fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or smoke alarms that do not work. Thankfully, no injuries were reported in either of these incidents.

The Fire District reminds residents to test smoke alarms at least once a month and to replace batteries at least once a year. Testing a device involves pressing the test button on the front to ensure an alarm is heard. Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home. Whenever possible, smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, all alarms sound.

For more information about home fire safety and resources to help prevent fires, please visit the Bluffton Township Fire District website at www.blufftonfd.com. You can also follow @BlufftonFire on social media including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Nextdoor.