Stephens Co. Assists with Oconee, SC Fire Wednesday

By Dick Mangrum, WGOG Radio, Walhalla

Stephens County volunteer firefighters were among those on scene Wednesday night at a fire in Oconee County, South Carolina.

According to Oconee County, South Carolina Fire Chief Charlie King, crews got the call at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to respond to a fire at 8541 Toccoa Highway, or U.S. Highway 123, across from the New Madison Baptist Church in the Cleveland community of rural Oconee County.

“The 911 center started receiving a good many calls from passer-bys reporting a house on fire on the 8000 block of Toccoa Highway,” said King. “Firefighters arrived on scene and found a two-story old farmhouse well-involved in fire. About 50 firefighters from five stations in Oconee and one from Stephens County, Georgia worked for about two hours to bring the fire under control.”

No injuries were reported, but firefighters were on the scene for nearly five hours Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

King went on to say that it was a large family that has been displaced by the blaze.

“It was a large number,” said King. “It was 2 adults and 11 children. They are being assisted by the Red Cross. If there was anybody in the community that was looking to help the family further, we urge them to contact the local Red Cross chapter in Anderson to offer any assistance.”

That assistance includes financial assistance for food, clothing, temporary lodging, and other essentials, including comfort kits containing personal hygiene items.

Meanwhile, King said crews were back on the scene of the fire on Thursday in an effort to determine the cause.