Tuesday morning starts with another early working structure fire near Oak Grove

Oak Grove, SC (Paul Kirby) 12/07/2020 - A structure was destroyed by fire in the 4400 block of Augusta Road near the Barnyard Flea Market in the Oak Grove community of Lexington County early Tuesday morning. The call regarding the fire came in at about 4:15 a.m.

Lexington County Fire Service’s Station 9, Oak Grove, is just a short distance away from the scene. Within moments of going enroute, firefighters reported they had a single-story brick structure that was approximately 50% involved in flames. The crew immediately began setting up to attack the fire as additional equipment and manpower arrived from across the central portion of the county. Engine #319 out of Pine Grove laid a supply hose in from a fire hydrant near Oak Drive and Augusta Road to supply the firefighters with water. This blocked the southbound lanes of the highway. Traffic was still being hampered by this at 6:00 a.m.

As the first battalion chief arrived, he did a reassessment of the fire and estimated as much as 3/4 of the building was on fire at that point. Because of the fire’s intensity and growth, he requested a second alarm at 4:34 a.m. A second alarm brings a measured amount of additional equipment and manpower to assist in putting the fire out.

With temperatures hovering at about freezing, the amount of water being put on the fire and the water mist emanating from the firefighters’ nozzles often create hazardous conditions on or near the scene for people working or driving, especially downwind. Certainly, it makes it difficult for the firefighters who are working in these cold, wet conditions. This all has to be considered by the incident’s safety officer while the operation is ongoing.

The incident commander placed the fire under control within an hour of the initial call. It may be some time before the crews have finished outing the fire completely out. Then, firefighters will have to pick up their equipment and reload their trucks before all personnel leave the scene.