Fiery blaze destroys P&D Grocery
December 9th, 2009 | 
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| A Smoaks convenience store is left in a charred heap of rubble following an early Sunday morning fire.Pat and David Garris awoke to an emergency call signifying their community store located at 27499 Lowcountry Highway in was on fire. Once Pat arrived to the scene of the fiery devastation, she recalls fire shooting through a rear portal. |
| “This hurts me beyond end,” she said. It’s like a nightmare.”P&D Grocery, like many family businesses, was accustomed to allowing its customers to apply credit to purchases. As Mrs. Garris pillaged through the blackened debris, she recovered many records intact. She said she will make sure her customers are aware of where they can make repayment.
According to Colleton County Fire Rescue Executive Director Barry McRoy, Stations 3, 4, 7, 18, 19, 23 and 26 responded to a commercial structure fire at 4:20 a.m. The building is reported to have been burning for quite some time prior to it being reported. Firefighters witness flames shooting 20 feet into the early morning sky. They used the deck gun to attempt to knock down the flames and deployed several handlines in the effort. Battalion 1 arrived at 0440 and issued a second alarm. McRoy said crews used three 1-3/4 handlines, one 2-1/2 handline, a deck gun and the master stream from Ladder 19. Six 3000 gallon Tenders conducted a continuous water shuttle for 2-1/2 hours to meet the water supply needs of the operation refilling from a pressurized fire hydrant about ¼ of a mile from the scene. Firefighters had the bulk of the fire knocked down within 1-1/2 hours , but were on the scene for 5 hours performing overhaul and investigating the cause. Initial firefighting efforts were hampered by burglar bars on the windows and doors until crews used power saws to remove them. Fire Investigators determined the fire originated in the main electrical panel near the rear of the building and extended into the ceiling of the approximately 5600 sq ft block building. The main building served as a country store in this rural community. The store operated a filling station, a kitchen which served daily meals and a flea market. The main building had an addition which served as a warehouse and storage area for the store and the flea market. Firefighters were able to stop the flames from completely destroying the attached warehouse, however that portion of the building suffered heat and smoke damage. Firefighters were also able to save some items from the flea market before being driven out by the fire. Thirty firefighters responded to the incident. Sheriff’s Deputies detoured traffic on US Hwy 21 for several hours during the early morning fire. No injuries were reported. Engine 7, Engine 18, Tender 3, Tender 4, Tender 7, Tender 18, Tender 23, Tender 26, Ladder 19, Medic 18, Medic 26, Squad 23, Battalion 1, Truck 12 and Car 17 responded. Battalion Chief Richard Sheffield served as Incident Commander. Since the fiery blaze took place on Sunday, vandals and thieves have reportedly taken advantage of the unsecured merchandise and other valuables. Pat Garris is asking members of the Smoaks community to help her contain the remains and to aid her in recovering things lost in the fire. “If you owe a bill at my store or cashed a check Friday or Saturday, PLEASE CALL 562-8804.” |
Posted in Fire/EMS