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<p><strong>From staff reports</strong></p>
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<p>The Burton and Sheldon Fire Districts, Beaufort County EMS and Sheriff’s Office, and the MCAS Fire Department responded to a house fire in Seabrook late Tuesday afternoon, March 1, which resulted in a firefighter sustaining a minor injury, a deceased pet, and the homeowner being displaced.</p>
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<p>Just before 5:30 p.m., emergency crews responded to a reported house fire on Stuart Point Rd in Seabrook. Firefighters arrived on scene and reported a single wide mobile home 50 percent involved in flames. Everyone had escaped the home.</p>
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<p>Firefighters had to battle the flames from the outside before it was safe to enter. Operations were hampered a bit as the electrical wires came free of the home and were still live on the ground. Fire crews searched the home for a reported kitten but were unable to locate it; however the feline, which did not survive, was located during a last search of the residence before firefighters left the scene three hours later.</p>
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<p>Due to the lack of hydrants in the area, the Sheldon Fire District responded with their water tanker for a water supply as part of an automatic aid agreement with Burton.</p>
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<p>The elderly homeowner stated she smelled smoke, and when she went to investigate, she saw fire around her electrical panel. There were no working smoke alarms in the home. Fire investigators located the area where the fire started, which was in the area of the electrical panel, but the investigation as to the exact cause is still under investigation.</p>
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<p>The resident was displaced. One firefighter sustained a minor injury, but was able to return to duty.</p>
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<p>This is the eighth house fire for the Burton Fire District in 2022, five more than this same time in 2021. Burton fire officials remind citizens to have working smoke alarms, properly placed and less than 10 years old, in their homes. Citizens who have questions about smoke alarms, or need smoke alarms, are encouraged to call their local fire department or email safetyed@burtonfd.org.</p>
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