From staff reports
Early Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 20, the Burton Fire District, MCAS Fire and Rescue, and Beaufort County EMS responded to a reported house fire in the Grays Hill area of Burton, in Beaufort County, in what fire officials are stating was seconds from tragedy.
Just before 1 p.m., a family member driving by saw smoke coming from his mother’s home and called 911. The son quickly entered the home, which was filling with smoke, helped evacuate his elderly mother, and was able to knock some of the fire down using baking soda.
Emergency crews arrived on scene with smoke still coming from the home. Burton firefighters entered the home and completed the extinguishment, but not before the fire had spread into the walls, cabinets, and ceiling. The fire was caused by unattended cooking on the stove.
While damages to the stove and cabinet area was extensive, the rest of the single wide mobile home sustained only minor smoke damage. The resident was displaced and is staying with family. No injuries were reported.
Burton fire officials state this fire was seconds from becoming a tragedy. While the smoke alarms had activated, had the son not arrived to help evacuate his mother, officials say serious injuries or worse were very likely.
While the fire was knocked down by the son’s quick thinking and using nearby baking soda, fire officials stress the importance of having a home ABC fire extinguisher, less than five years old, mounted in the kitchen area for quick access and use.
Cooking fires remain the number one cause of fire for the Burton Fire District.
