Here's an update on the blaze that destroyed the homes of 16, and how you can help them
Investigators are on scene following a brutal blaze that destroyed the homes of 16 people at Windsor Green apartments in Carolina Forest Thursday night. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
The Red Cross is assisting the victims whose homes were gutted. Someone quickly started a Gofundme page Thursday night following the fire. Others have showed support on Facebook, offering a place for victims to stay or clothing.
Nanci Conley, American Red Cross executive director for the eastern South Carolina chapter, said Red Cross is on scene providing the families with mental health counseling, housing and meals. A long-term recovery team will also be working with the victims, she said.
"The best way people can help is making a donation online," Conley said.
Red Cross officials said they are assisting at least 20 people so far, but that number could change, according to a news release.
“Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by last night’s massive fire,” said Conley in a press release. “The Red Cross remains committed to helping residents recover from the blaze.”
Items for victims can also be dropped off at a nearby holistic health service center called a Beautiful Mind located at 121 Gateway Road.
The fire broke out just after 9 p.m., causing seven people to be hospitalized, and four of those in critical condition, said Horry County Fire Rescue Spokesperson Mark Nugent. Nobody was burned, he said, and the injuries were mostly broken bones because people jumped from balconies.
"Somebody tossed a child (from a balcony) to a teenager, who caught the child," Nugent said Friday morning. "A firefighter did rescue one out of the building."
Investigators, who waited until daylight to assess the fire damage, are walking through the complex today to "make sure there are no good Samaritans that came in" and didn't make it out, Nugent said.
Complexes on each side of the building that burned are melted from the flames, but did not burn, Nugent said.
Nugent said people should stay away from the area unless they live in Windsor Green.
Many of the fire trucks that responded to the scene left at about 3 a.m. A few crews remained on scene and worked to fully extinguish the fire. A ladder truck poured water into the structure on a few occasions - each time lasting more than 5 minutes - sending water cascading throughout the residences.
2013 fire destroyed 26 buildings
Windsor Green suffered a fire in March 2013 that burned and destroyed 26 buildings. It took crews nearly four hours to get the blazes under control.
A day later, a sheriff's deputy got sick from smoke inhalation and later the H1N1 virus. He later died at the Medical University of South Carolina after a two-month battle involving a medically induced coma and ventilator.
The buildings were rebuilt by December 2013.
Hannah Strong: 843-444-1765, @HannahLStrong
This story was originally published April 13, 2018 at 8:34 AM with the headline "Here's an update on the blaze that destroyed the homes of 16, and how you can help them."