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Over the weekend, a string of fires erupted across the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry, with many incidents tied to efforts to keep warm amid the chilly weather, according to fire officials.
Chatham County Fire Deputy Chief Keith Hardin emphasized the risks associated with improper heating methods. These practices, he noted, can quickly spiral into hazardous situations if not managed with care.
In recent days, Chatham County was the site of two notable residential fires. Savannah firefighters were called to East 67th Street, where a blaze displaced 12 residents. Another fire on Ogeechee Road added to the weekend’s emergencies.
“In one case, residents were cooking and left items on the stove when the power failed,” explained Hardin. “They neglected to turn off the stove before leaving. When the power was restored, the stove reignited, leading to significant heat and smoke damage throughout the home.”
Despite the weekend’s events, Hardin remarked that the frequency of such fires isn’t unusual for Chatham County during the winter months.
The Burton Fire District Assistant Fire Chief and Community Support Officer Capt. Daniel Byrne said Burton has responded to five fires since the first of the year, causing about 16 people to be displaced.
He said they responded to two fires within a 24-hour period this past weekend. One occurred on Ratel Dr. in Beaufort and the other in Grays Hill. Both fires caused three people to be displaced, said Byrne.
Neither fire was caused by cold weather heating, but rather electrical issues, according to Byrne.
“In one case, a golf cart was plugged in outside the home after being used,” Byrne said. “It had been charging for about an hour when they heard a loud pop. When they went outside, there was already a significant fire burning near the house.”
The second fire was caused by an HVAC unit malfunction. The unit was in the attic where there was no fire alarm, said Bryne.
Byrne added that electrical malfunctions are the most common type of fire the Burton Fire District responds to.
Another fire occurred in Rincon over the weekend. One woman was transported to the Augusta Burn Center, and a Rincon firefighter suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
That fire remains under investigation. reached out to officials for more information, but we have not yet received a response.
Effingham County Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Clint Hodges urged people to make sure they have working smoke alarms to hopefully prevent devastation.
“We ask that everybody make sure their smoke detectors are both operational and they check them at least twice a year because those are absolute lifesavers,” said Hodges. “We’ve had several instances lately where those have provided the notification for individuals to get out and smoke detectors absolutely save lives.”
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