St. Helena home under renovation catches fire after crew members try to warm up

A St. Helena Island home undergoing renovation caught fire early Monday morning after crew members decided to warm up by using the fireplace.

The Lady’s Island-St. Helena Fire District responded to the structure fire at about 2 a.m. Monday on Janette Drive on St. Helena.

Due to the cold temperatures, the renovation crew had a fire going in the fireplace. After finishing up late, they heard a popping noise coming from the living room and noticed smoke pouring out around the fireplace, according to Fire District Spokesman Scott Harris.

When the first fire truck arrived at the scene, smoke and flames were coming from the side of the house where the chimney was located, Harris said.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, which was contained to the wall in the living room and room above it, and no injuries were reported. The house was minimally damaged due to the quick 911 call and response times, according to Harris.

“Although there was nothing they could have done to prevent this fire, it’s a reminder to always keep an eye on your fireplace once it’s been lit and to make sure it’s extinguished before calling it a night or leaving the home,” Harris said in a statement.

This story was originally published January 15, 2018 at 12:11 PM with the headline "St. Helena home under renovation catches fire after crew members try to warm up."