Crews monitor 30-acre area after forest fire in Lugoff

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LUGOFF, S.C. (WOLO) — Lugoff fire crews worked a 30 acre blaze Saturday. The fire burned in forest behind Pepperidge Subdivision off U.S. Highway 1. Crews were able to stop the woods fire before it made it to homes inside the subdivision. The S.C. Forestry Commission sent two bulldozer crews and Lugoff Fire-Rescue received assistance from several Kershaw County fire departments to contain the fire. Excessive heat, variable winds, and tough terrain made for a tough fight. Preliminary investigation by the S.C. Forestry Commission indicates that the fire was caused by a freight train earlier in the day. Crews were dispatched around 2:15 p.m. Saturday and cleared the scene around 7:30 p.m. Smoke from burnt debris will be present for several days inside the fire break area. Lugoff Fire crews will return to the scene periodically for the next few days to check the fire breaks. This area is one of the high-risk wildfire areas highlighted in Lugoff Fire-Rescue’s recent FireWise Wildfire Assessment. Lugoff crews were able to identify quickly the homes most vulnerable and deploy resources to those homes first to prevent fire loss. “I want to thank all of our personnel that did such an outstanding job on this fire in the intense heat of the day to include our Kershaw County Fire Stations and the SC Forestry Commission who assisted. Job well done,” said Lugoff Fire Chief Dennis Ray.