Fire Destroys DeBordieu Home; Hydrant Not Working
Last Updated on 12/4/2008
Published on 5/13/2008
One house was completely destroyed and seven others damaged by a fire that spread along the beachfront in DeBordieu Colony Tuesday afternoon. Firefighting efforts were hampered because a hydrant near the multi-million-dollar home was not working. According to Bob Beebe, public information officer with Midway Fire Rescue, more than 60 firefighters from four area departments — Midway Fire Rescue, Murrells Inlet/Garden City Fire Department, Georgetown City Fire Department and Georgetown County Fire Department — responded to a house fire call at 881 DeBordieu Blvd. Tuesday at around 1:30 p.m. “The fire started at that address, but soon heat exposure affected four houses near that house,” Beebe said. “Flaming embers, which were flying over the house, affected three more houses down the beach.” He says none of the houses was occupied and there were no civilian or firefighter injuries during the blaze. When fire crew got to the scene and realized the hydrant near the home did not work, they had to take time to stretch hoses to another hydrant a distance away. It was the second time this year a house inside DeBordieu has been destroyed after a hydrant was not working. The other incident occurred in February. Beebe states that the house where the fire started, which was destroyed, is a vacation house and that the owner,William Kitchens, lives in Columbia. The other houses affected received minor damage. Midway Fire Chief Doug Eggiman, who was also on the scene, stated at 2:30 p.m. that all of the fires were extinguished and firefighters on the scene were “trying to make sure everything is OK.” “We are over the major hump now,” he said. “From this point on, it is just a lot of long and tedious work.” The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Midway Fire and the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office were investigating the cause of the fire. First reported on www.gtowntimes.com at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.|
This is the second house that burned in Debidue. You can blame it on the hydrants, the fire department or the home owner. There are how many hydrants in the County? How can anyone expect all of them to work at anyone time? What was the response time? Just guessing, it is 3 or 4 miles from the station. Should take 8-10 minutes. The first fire was closer. No one was home during the second fire, first fire the dummy was grilling his siding. Seems like plenty of blame to go around Posted by Man who dont want to burn on 5/14/2008
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This is truly a tragic event. My deepest sympathies to the families effected by the non-working hydrant. Looks like there's a deeper cause for this problem. Posted by on 5/14/2008
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You idiots: This article has nothing to do with the fire hydrants in the City of Georgetown. The hydrants in the city are fine (as in no problem). Wake up and get your glasses on. The faulty hydrants belong to the Georgetown County Water and Sewer District. The GCWSD is not the same as Georgetown County Government. It is a separate political sub-division with an independent board of directors. The Georgetown County Water and Sewer District also is not any part of Georgetown County, or the City of Georgetown. If only you political whiners knew more about the politics you constantly complain about. I would hate to be in Bob Barker's shoes right now. Posted by on 5/14/2008
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Debordieu is served by the Georgetown County Water and Sewer District, not the City of Georgetown. If the hydrants out there don't work, it is not the fault of the City. The City regularly tests its fire hydrants and they are all in working order. Some areas of the City in Maryville suffer from low water pressure because the developers of those areas put in pipe that is too small. Those problems are being addressed by the City now. However, the water problems in Debordieu are the responsibility of the developers there and the GCW&SD. Posted by on 5/14/2008
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The city needs to inspect these fire hydrants on a more regular basis. Lives and propery are at stake. As much taxes collected in South Carolina, some should be spent purchasing the proper amount of hydrants and making sure they are in good working order. The firemen have a very dangerous job. They are protecting us and our property and their lives should be protected as well. They are doing a dangerous service to the community and more should be done to insure the safety to all. People say you can always buy material things back, but there are some things you cannot replace (photos, childhood articles, Mom & Dad memorabilia etc. ). Having working hydrants is a way a loss can be limited either way,.........fix and maintain the hydrants CITY OF GEORGETOWN COUNTY, please........Use some of that tax money you're draining from us. Posted by loop on 5/14/2008
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