South Carolina Man Burned While Trying to Control Wildfire

A Huger man s body was severely burned Tuesday night after he fell from a tractor into a large fire that he had been trying to control on his own, officials said.

The fire, which grew to consume about 25 acres, was reported just before 6:15 p.m. at 1122 Frost Lane off S.C. Highway 41, according to Cainhoy Rural Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Steve Goodwin.

When crews arrived, they found the man with severe burns and a large forest fire threatening multiple houses, he said.

A landing zone was set up by fire crews nearby on Charity Church Road and the victim was treated by rescue personnel before being flown by a medical helicopter in critical condition to the Doctors Hospital burn center in Augusta, Ga.

Goodwin said the man had burns on more than 70 percent of his body. His current condition is unknown.

According to witnesses at the scene, the man, who has not been identified, was reportedly trying to contain the fire using his tractor. When it became too large to fight on his own, he jumped off of the tractor to flee the area and fell into the fire, Goodwin said.

Firefighters from multiple communities worked for more than three hours to contain the fire and protect all nearby houses. The S.C. Forestry Commission also responded with plows to stop the spread of the blaze.

No buildings were damaged and no other injuries were reported.

The fire, which was in the Francis Marion National Forest, was determined to have started when a controlled burn of yard debris spread into the nearby woods.

Goodwin reminded people to use extreme caution when burning yard debris.

He said state law requires a landowner to call the Forestry Commission before conducting a burn and to have an adequate break around the burning site; an adequate means of fire control, such as a garden hose; and to stay with the fire until it is completely safe.

Goodwin did not know if the commission was notified of the controlled burn.

Cainhoy Fire Department was assisted by Macedonia, Cordesville, Huger and Awendaw District Fire Departments. Berkeley County EMS and LifeNet Air Transport also responded.

Dave Munday contributed to this report. Reach Melissa Boughton at 937-5594 or at Twitter.com/mboughtonPC.