Firefighters battle a blaze that spread into the attic and burned through a roof at a home on South Dogwood Road in Claxton. (Photo by Tom Scott)
A Monday evening fire burned through the roof of a home behind the Bread Box convenience store on Edgemoor Road in Claxton.
The fire at 110 S. Dogwood Road was reported at about 6:45 p.m. Monday, photographer Tom Scott said. It was originally reported as a kitchen fire, but the fire extended into the attic and burned through the roof, causing extensive damage.
Before firefighters arrived, a neighbor kicked open a door after hearing what sounded like a cry for help and freed a trapped cat, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton. No injuries were reported.
The initial response was by the Claxton Fire Department. In one of the larger Anderson County mutual aid operations in recent years, the Rural Metro, Andersonville, Marlow, Medford, and Briceville fire departments responded, and so did Anderson County Emergency Medical Services and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Scott said. The American Red Cross also responded to help the residents.
Here are more pictures by Scott:
William Cramer says
Just to update you John on this, volunteers from American Red Cross assisted the family and provided food, clothing, and shelter assistance. We had 3 volunteers on the scene to assist the family and provide snacks/drinks to the firefighters.
This has been the 5th house fire Red Cross volunteers have responded to since Thanksgiving and marks the 49th family Red Cross has provided assistance to this year in Anderson County. The volunteers with American Red Cross in this county and nationwide work very hard to help those affected by disasters. Our volunteers are on call 24/7/365 to assist those who need assistance.
johnhuotari says
Thank you, William. You’ve been busy then.
Is that a higher-than-normal number of fires that you’ve had to respond to in that amount of time?
William Cramer says
In a normal year we average about 2 fires per month, about 24 per year. It’s not really unusual this time of year to see an increase in house fires. Several factors go into that, but this time of year we usually point to things like wood stoves and fireplaces being used frequently as the cause. This year has been exceptionally bad overall though.
johnhuotari says
Thank you, William.