County firefighters use interagency cooperation to fight structure fire in Chapin

Chapin, SC (Paul Kirby) – Lexington County firefighters were working together this weekend with firefighters from the Irmo Fire District, Columbia-Richland’s Fire Service, and Newberry County to fight a commercial structure fire just outside of Chapin. The fire, which was dispatched just before 4:30 p.m. Saturday, was in the 100 block of Westwood Drive which runs off St. Peters Church Road.

Before the first fire service equipment arrived, a volunteer firefighter was on the scene and reported that heavy black smoke was coming from the roof of the burning building. The battalion chief over the North Region quickly requested trucks with extra manpower and water tankers from the surrounding jurisdictions.

The first arriving firefighters made an aggressive attack on the fire and quickly began to bring it under control. A rural water operation was set up with the tankers so that there would be enough water to fight the fire.

Both Lexington County battalion chiefs were committed to the fire and the duty officer was notified. Equipment from other Lexington County Stations was moved into the Chapin area to cover any additional emergencies. Just before 5:00 p.m. the fire commander was reporting that it appeared as if the blaze were under control. At approximately 6:00 p.m. the fire was reported out. All Lexington County Fire Service equipment left the scene at that time.

There was no estimated loss released and the cause of the fire is under investigation.