Home destroyed by fire that started with unauthorized burning of garbage

Gaston, SC (Paul Kirby) – A double wide mobile home was destroyed by fire Wednesday afternoon after the residents were burning household garbage in violation of county burn laws and that trash fire got out of control. According to Harrison Cahill, spokesman for Lexington County, there was heavy fire involvement upon arrival of the county’s first fire trucks. The crews attacked the fire and were able to bring it under control after gathering enough manpower and equipment to put a sustained flow of water on the blaze.

Cahill said at the height of the fire there were one ladder truck, four engines, two tankers, one specially outfitted squad truck, and both on duty battalion chiefs on the call. In total, this included 19 personnel. There was also an EMS unit on standby and law enforcement officers assisting. The two adults who lived in the home were displaced, but the American Red Cross was called to assist them. Cahill said that they estimate that the total loss of the home equated to about $30,000 in damage.