Blaze destroys Pawleys Island home and injures one, cause undetermined

The cause of a Wednesday night house fire in Pawleys Island that destroyed one home, left one person injured, and damaged a neighboring home, was yet to be determined late Thursday morning, according to Doug Eggiman, chief for Midway Fire Rescue.

“When you have this kind of extensive damage, it can be really difficult to pinpoint the cause,” Eggiman said.

The fire happened around 9:30 p.m. at a single-family home on Cole Lane, and authorities were still on the scene late Thursday afternoon, ensuring the fire stayed out and investigating the cause, Eggiman said.

When firefighters arrived, the house was fully involved, a second structure was smoking, and there was heavy wind. The neighboring home suffered smoke damage that melted siding and broke a window, authorities said.

Firefighters were called from Georgetown County, Georgetown City, Murrells Inlet Garden City Beach, Surfside Beach, and Horry County to assist, and around midnight Eggiman reported that the fire was under control.

Capt. Jerry Howerton from Murrells Inlet Garden City Fire Rescue said three trucks, including a ladder truck, from that agency responded to assist.

Eggiman said two occupants in the home were out when firefighters arrived. One was taken to Grand Stand Medical Center for fire-related injuries. Eggiman said the exact details about the person’s injuries were not available, but the victim remained hospitalized Thursday morning and was in stable condition. He said no firefighters were injured.

The displaced residents will be staying with family in the Georgetown area, Eggiman said.

This story was originally published April 15, 2015 at 10:39 PM with the headline "Blaze destroys Pawleys Island home and injures one, cause undetermined."