UPDATED: Homes Evacuated Due To Aiken County Brush Fire

***11:00 p.m. Update July 2***

Aiken County, SC—Tyler Wilson, called fire in: “We pulled up and we seen the fire and we seen it going up through the woods, so I called it in.“

Tyler Wilson and his co-worker were one of the first to see this huge Aiken brush fire begin. Others, like Franscia Wade saw it coming towards their home…right before they were evacuated.

Franscia Wade, evacuated from her home: “Just a lot of smoke, I mean the smoke was so thick it was like a cloudy day.“

More than 10 crews battled 2 separate fires…they eventually met up…taking out 228 acres. While flames jumped roads, and the fire spread, a command post was set up, mapping out the area, and checking on the more than 50 firefighters out in the woods.

Sgt. Dave Myers, Aiken County Sheriff’s Office: “We’re constantly giving them water, doing shift type work, where we’re taking fresh personnel and putting them on the seen and pulling people out to give them a break and get fluids to them.“

Daryl Jones, SC Forest Protection Chief: “The plan, from now on, will be to take our tractors and go and prune those fire breaks and make them wider so that the fire can’t get over those fire breaks.“

And after 6 hours, those breaks were successful…crews were able to get the fire 100% contained, and those like Wade and her family were able to head home…not knowing what they would go back to…but in good spirits knowing their lives were spared along with so many others.

Wade: “It is very scary.“

There’s no word on what started the fire, although officials are pretty sure they can rule out arson. They’ll begin their investigation Friday morning. Officials say, if you are one of those folks evacuated Thursday and return home to damage, call your local fire department.

————————

Aiken County, SC—WJBF News Channel 6 has learned of a huge brush fire in Aiken County.

We’re told the fire is in the area of Cooks Bridge Road and Snipes Pond Road, northeast of the city of Aiken.

We are told that some people are being evacuated from their homes. At this point, no homes have been reported to be damaged.

Snipes Pond Road is now closed and a section of Cooks Bridge Road between New Holland Road and Snipes Pond Road is now closed.

We’re told units from several fire departments in Aiken County have responded to the fire, and more are being called in. In total, about 10 departments, and more than 50 firefighters are on the scene. The staging point for firefighters and officials is near the intersection of Shaws Fork Road and Cooks Bridge Road.

So far, one firefighter has been taken to the hospital for minor burns, and 3 more for heat exhaustion.

Officials say the fire is jumping. It is believed the fire started in the Beaverdam Road area, near Cooks Bridge Road.

WJBF News Channel 6’s Barclay Bishop is on the scene..