Racepath home fire likely caused by electrical issues; family saved by smoke alarm

Schanski Hemingway stood in the charred ruin of her Racepath home Tuesday and said she was grateful, despite losing all her possessions.

Fire destroyed her home just days before Christmas -- including all of the gifts -- but her 21-year-old daughter, 27-year-old son, and three grandchildren, ages 3, 1, and 2-months-old, are all safe thanks to the screaming of a free smoke detector installed in January that woke her daughter.

“At the end of the day as long as I can still touch and hold my family that’s all that counts. Everything else that we lost was all material things, and in the long run we can get it back, but as for my children, I wouldn’t be able to get their lives back,” Hemingway said, who is being helped by area organizations.

The fire likely started near a bedroom electrical outlet, though the official cause is still under investigation, William Martin, chief investigator with Horry County Fire Rescue, said Tuesday.

Hemingway said she left her home about 10:45 a.m. Sunday to run an errand and shortly after she received a call from her 23-year-old son, who lives at another nearby home, telling her that her house was on fire.

“At that point I did a U-turn in the middle of the road,” she said.

When she arrived she was told her family made it out safely. Hemingway’s son helped her daughter get the children out to safety, and then helped Hemingway’s other son who has special needs, she said.

Myrtle Beach Fire Department responded to put out the flames, and HCFR is leading the investigation.

Hemingway’s home had a smoke detector thanks to a fire “safety blitz” done Jan. 19 when officials from the fire departments, American Red Cross and other agencies installed roughly 180 smoke detectors in the Racepath community.

“I feel if it wasn’t for the efforts of the Red Cross, along with the fire department, Horry County and Myrtle Beach fire department, that I probably would have lost the majority of my family,” Hemingway said.

Dennis James, disaster services volunteer with the American Red Cross, helped with the planning and execution of the installation and also responded to the home just after the fire to help Hemingway and her family get shelter, clothing, and to make sure all their needs were met in the aftermath of losing their home.

“I went straight to her [Hemingway] and gave her a big hug,” James said. “It’s been very rewarding. You see all the work go into putting these smoke alarms in and then all the sudden you reap the benefit, especially in seeing five lives saved. It’s just awesome. It really is.”

The American Red Cross and fire departments are still putting smoke alarms in homes as often as possible, but families should also have a plan in place for evacuation, said Nanci Conley, executive director of Eastern South Carolina American Red Cross.

“The key is not only the smoke alarms. People need to be prepared. They need to have a plan. They need to know what to do. Smoke alarms are just one part of the project,” Conley said.

Residents in need of a smoke alarm or help establishing a home evacuation plan can call local fire departments or American Red Cross for assistance, Conley said.

Horry County Fire Chief Joey Tanner said about 1,900 smoke alarms have been installed throughout the county in different safety blitzes.

During the installations, officials from area fire departments and American Red Cross volunteers go door-to-door and educate residents.

“What we want to do is to encourage everyone to make sure you have a working smoke alarm in your home. If you really want to give someone a good Christmas gift this year, a smoke alarm is truly a life saver,” Tanner said.

Tanner also pointed out that earlier this year other Racepath community occupants were saved thanks to the howls of a smoke alarm telling them to get out and get to safety.

On Sept. 25, a home at 1649 Racepath Street caught fire during the early morning hours, and all the occupants made it out safely.

The American Red Cross is helping Hemingway and her family for as long it takes for them to get back on their feet.

“Everything is gone,” Hemingway said, including Christmas gifts.

The Rev. William Gause said he plans to use his nonprofit organization, Phoenix Renaissance, Inc., to accept donations for the affected families.

For more information on donations, contact Gause at 843-283-3864. Checks can be made payable to Phoenix Renaissance, Inc.

This story was originally published December 22, 2015 at 4:26 PM with the headline "Racepath home fire likely caused by electrical issues; family saved by smoke alarm."