Fire chief says too much damage done in Pawleys Island fire to pinpoint cause

Feb. 23--Fire investigators determined that too much damage was done in a large blaze early Wednesday morning that consumed two Pawleys Island beach houses to pinpoint the fire's origins.

Midway Fire Rescue Fire Chief Doug Eggiman said Thursday that while fire authorities feel confident the blaze ignited at the home that collapsed during the fire, he said so much devastation was done that the fire's cause is noted by them as undetermined. He said insurance companies and engineers could possibly get involved in investigating the blaze that destroyed two homes on Myrtle Avenue in Pawleys Island.

No one was inside when the homes went up in flames about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, and no injuries were reported in connection with the fire. Eggiman said many glowing embers were flying from the fire, threatening a couple of nearby homes. He said while some were small, other embers were the size of footballs.

Firefighters worked quickly to shield the properties, and only one suffered damage.

When Midway Fire Rescue crews were first called to battle the blaze they found two homes engulfed in flames, Eggiman said. MFR crews had mutual aid from Georgetown City Fire, Georgetown County Fire Rescue, Murrells Inlet-Garden City Beach Fire, and Horry County Fire Rescue.

Myrtle Avenue was shut down for hours Wednesday morning as crews worked to put out the fire.

___

(c)2017 The Sun News (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)

Visit The Sun News (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) at www.thesunnews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.