Bluffton, SC (July 30, 2025) – Bluffton Township Fire District’s (BTFD) Wildland Crew worked alongside the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) Tuesday afternoon to contain a brush fire that burned 29 acres in Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge.
The brush fire was reported shortly after 3:00 p.m. by an off-duty firefighter who spotted flames on Pinckney Island following a lightning strike near Clubhouse Trail and the Bull Point area. Dispatch received additional calls as smoke intensified and became visible from Highway 278 and across Skull Creek on Hilton Head Island. Firefighters from BTFD Stations 33 and 36 and Battalion 35 responded and began initial operations. Battalion 35 established incident command at the scene and later transferred control to USFWS representatives since the fire was located on federally managed land.
Access to the fire was limited, preventing standard fire apparatus from reaching the flames. A five-member BTFD Wildland Crew responded with Brush 335 and joined USFWS and SCFC personnel in a coordinated burn-out operation. Using drip torches, the crew set controlled fires along trail systems that served as natural fire breaks, ultimately stopping the fire’s spread.
The Wildland Crew included Senior Firefighters Toby Bonsall, Charlie Campbell, Matt Henne (Crew Coordinator), Matt Wallett, and Lieutenant Tyler Marion. These firefighters are specially trained to respond to wildfire incidents and frequently work in close partnership with USFWS, the U.S. Forestry Service, and the South Carolina Forestry Commission.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Fire Management Officer Adam McCullough confirmed the fire burned 29 acres in the affected unit. Scotty Harrington, Fire Management Officer (FMO) for the Beaufort/Jasper Sector with the SC Forestry Commission, assisted in the coordinated suppression and burn-out operations on Tuesday. USFWS officials remained on scene into the evening to continue monitoring the area and will conduct additional inspections. As of this morning, light smoke remains in the area, but the fire is fully contained.
“This incident demonstrates how vital it is to work closely with our partner agencies during wildland fire responses,” said Stephen Combs, Public Information Officer for BTFD. “The Wildland Crew’s specialized training, combined with excellent coordination on the ground, made it possible to contain the fire quickly and safely.”
No injuries were reported, and no structures were threatened.
