Child apparently the hero in Saturday fire according to neighbors

Sharpes Hill, SC (Paul Kirby) – A fire that broke out around noon Saturday near Sharpes Hill could have been another double tragedy for our county. Firefighters were dispatched to the structure fire in the 100 block of Roundtree Drive off Woodcrest Road. While enroute they were told there might be two people in the home that hadn’t escaped.

Firefighters arrived on the scene and reported that they had heavy smoke and flames coming from the double-wide mobile home. Thankfully, the occupants of the home had gotten out just prior to their arrival.

The story of their escape is inspirational. According to neighbors and by-standers, a child who was at the home that was on fire, notified the sleeping adults staying there who were then able to escape just as the fire consumed the modest home. The occupants were checked out by Lexington County EMS, but neither appeared to be seriously injured as a result of the fire.

Most of the county’s South Region fire stations were on the scene with their equipment and personnel. A senior fire official spent time moving trucks from some central and outlying stations to ensure there were resources to cover all parts of the county in the event of another large-scale emergency.

Eventually, the flames burned through the roof of the house before it could be extinguished. During most of the fight, the home’s blessed occupants sat in a car in the yard as their possessions and the home were destroyed. They could at least be comforted by the fact that they had escaped with their lives!

Because the small neighborhood had fire hydrants that are a part of the Gaston Rural Water District’s system, firefighters were able to quickly establish a water supply. This made it possible for fire commanders to throw all their manpower into the fight and to bring the inferno under control in less than an hour. They spent several more hours on the scene picking up their equipment and mopping up the smoldering debris.

We have tried diligently to find the young child that was involved in this incident in order to be able tell her story in greater detail. If anyone knows how her parents can be reached, please e-mail that information to swlexledger@gmail.com

County fire officials said yesterday that the home was a total loss. The cause of the fire and the estimated monetary damages to the home have not been released by the county.