A young family with a newborn escaped a two-alarm fire that heavily damaged their three-story townhome on Grantham Place Drive in Fort Mill on Thursday, Sept. 10.
All occupants evacuated before fire crews arrived, Flint Hill Fire Department Chief Todd Wiesner told WSOC-TV. Residents in adjacent townhomes on both sides also got out safely but were temporarily displaced.
"Anytime they can get out before we get there is a good day," Wiesner said. "So luckily when we got there everybody was out of the house and the house next to it on both sides."
About six agencies responded and knocked down the flames in roughly 20 minutes, according to WSOC-TV. Queen City News reported that Flint Hill led the response with support from Pineville and Indian Land fire departments, drawing crews from three counties. A vehicle parked at the townhome was also engulfed.
Firewalls built into the townhome complex played a key role in containing the damage. The walls extend through the roofline, Wiesner said, and without them "it could have been a lot worse." Once crews controlled the blaze, Pineville firefighters searched the second and third floors. The exterior was heavily charred, Queen City News reported.
Neighbor Asif Haroon said he heard an explosion, looked through his window and saw neighbors running before spotting smoke. He grabbed his dog and ran to the corner of the street. Haroon said residents on Grantham Place Drive are now collecting clothing and other donations for the family, which lost all of its possessions.
Neighbor Angeria Wizzart described the father as a young man who worked in the medical field. The family's name has not been released.
Preliminary observations suggest the fire may have started near the garage, according to Wiesner. The fire marshal is investigating the exact cause, and no determination had been made as of Thursday, Sept. 10.
