Colleton County home is a total loss after fire

PHOTOS: A Colleton County family lost their home Saturday morning in a fire on Ruffin Road. According to Colleton County Fire-Rescue, crews were dispatched to a structure fire on Ruffin Road at 1:26 a.m. Saturday. Units arrived to find a two story wood home “well involved with flames consuming the roof.” Firefighters confirmed that there were no occupants in the building. Crews were able to stop the spread of the fire, however the second story collapsed resulting in heavy damage to the home. CCFR says the cause of the fire appears to be electrical. Some personal items were saved but the home suffered major damage. The Red Cross is assisting the family.
WCBD-TV NBC/CW+ 2 Charleston

100 bikers ride, raise money for family of Moncks Corner firefighter killed in crash

PHOTOS: More than 100 people gathered in Moncks Corner Sunday morning to honor the legacy of a 22-year-old firefighter who died in an accident last month. According to event organizers, 102 bikers signed up to ride in honor of Chad Andrew "Drew" Kelly Jr., helping to raise more than $2,000 for the Kelly family. The ride, organized by the South Carolina chapter of Frontline Soldiers FRMC, took place at 10 a.m. and began at the Town of Moncks Corner Fire Department Station 2. Kelly served as an engineer-EMT with the Moncks Corner Rural Fire Department (MCRFD) and was named the town's 2021 Firefighter of the Year, according to his obituary. Those who knew him say he was a leader, had a servant's heart, and was always willing to help. "If you told him to do something and you saw him not doing it, it was either because it was already done or he was going to get a bigger hammer to complete the job," said Colt Roy, the assistant chief of Central Berkeley Fire & EMS.
WCIV-TV ABC 4 Charleston

New Horry County emergency management director comes with experience

VIDEO: There’s a chance Horry County might have to activate its new, multimillion-dollar emergency operations center this hurricane season, and if it does, a familiar face will call the shots there. Horry County named Sam Hodge its new emergency management director in April. Hodge led Georgetown County Emergency Management for more than a decade before retiring in 2019. During that time, he earned South Carolina Emergency Manager of the Year in 2011 and 2013. That time, however, is just a fraction of the 30-plus years Hodge has spent in local public safety. He also has served as a firefighter at Murrells Inlet-Garden City Fire Rescue and as a battalion chief at Midway Fire Rescue. News13 Anchor Meghan Miller sat down with Hodge ahead of hurricane season for his first TV interview since accepting the role.
WBTW-TV CBS 13 Florence

Duke Energy supports first responders with $500,000 in grants for emergency preparedness in South Carolina

As hurricane season begins, emergency managers and first responders turn their eyes to the tropics as they continue to prepare their communities for the possibility of impacts from severe weather. Duke Energy is preparing as well and stands in support of these communities across South Carolina by announcing $500,000 in microgrants to help increase their resiliency and their ability to help residents prepare for and recover from the devastation brought by significant weather events. “Preparing communities to respond to severe weather impacts begins at the local level,” said Mike Callahan, Duke Energy’s South Carolina state president. “We are committed to keeping South Carolina’s resiliency and economy strong. These grants will help provide fellow first responders with the tools and training to handle whatever Mother Nature throws our way.”
Duke Energy