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NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The North Charleston Fire Department says Ashley Phosphate Road is partially open as crews remain on scene of a fire involving multiple mobile homes.
Officials were called to Beret Street around 4:48 p.m., Fire Safety Coordinator for North Charleston Fire Department Laura Kondor said.
Kondor said when crews arrived on scene, there was heavy black smoke coming from the back of a home.
“It appeared to be a shed that was on fire. It was progressing and it was affected by winds. This fire has been a wind-driven fire,” Kondor said during the media conference Tuesday evening.
Kondor said a total of six homes were affected by the fire. She says they’re either a complete loss or partially destroyed.
“A total of 13 adults and three children have been displaced. Currently, the American Red Cross has been asked for assistance,” Kondor said.
John Marlowe lives across the street from where the fire broke out. He said he was doing yard work when he looked up and saw his neighbor’s home engulfed in flames.
“I was just weed eating the yard and I looked across the street and saw a bunch of flames coming out of a house,” Marlowe said.
He said he ran over and grabbed a water hose, trying to put out the fire, but there wasn’t enough pressure in the hose to help.
“A bunch of houses went on fire; 6 houses went down and all of them my friends. All of them are without a home now,” Marlowe said.
Officials with the North Charleston Fire Department said there was not enough water supply in the area to support the amount of fire trucks on scene.
Officials said several power lines were also affected.
The fire forced officials to shut down a portion of Ashley Phosphate Road near the Cathedral of Praise to extend fire hoses, North Charleston Assistant Fire Chief Chris Rainey said.
The fire department says Ashley Phosphate Road is partially reopened as of 9:25 p.m.
Drivers should plan on finding an alternate route.
Officials say one firefighter was transported with non life-threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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