Fire devastates large historic home in Old Town Bluffton days before Christmas
A historic 5,000-square-foot home in Old Town Bluffton was a ravaged by a house fire just days before Christmas. All occupants inside the two-story house were able to safely escape the blaze, whose towering flames were visible from across the May River as they were strengthened by the evening winds.
Bluffton firefighters arrived to the Bridge Street home around 5:30 p.m. Monday after a smoke alarm was activated near the back porch of the residence. Discovering heavy fire on both floors of the home’s backside, crews brought water lines to both the front and rear of the building as a “defensive operation,” according to a news release from the Bluffton Township Fire District.
The homeowner was out of town at the time of the fire, but several relatives who were staying at the residence got out safely, the release says. The family told officials they would stay with nearby relatives and friends.
Southwest winds nearing 10 mph made it difficult to suppress the flames and risked spreading the fire to nearby structures. Some firefighters targeted the eastern side of the home to prevent the blaze from damaging another home about 40 feet away, according to department spokesperson Stephen Combs.
Neighbors from that home and several others were evacuated due to concerns with two “large” propane tanks belonging to the owners of the burning house, according to the news release. Combs said all neighboring homes were later deemed habitable upon inspection.
After crews controlled the fire, one engine stayed at the scene until 6:30 a.m. Tuesday to watch for possible flare-ups within the debris, Combs said.
Details on the cause of the fire were not available as of Thursday.
Beaufort County property records show the 5,224 square-foot home was built in 1890. Along with the riverfront land, the residence was most recently assessed at over $3 million.
“The house, part of the original Bluffton Township footprint, was a significant structure within the area, surrounded by several other historic homes. The loss of this landmark has deeply impacted the community, and the Bluffton Township Fire District extends its condolences to those affected by the fire,” the department wrote in the news release.
House fires are especially common during the winter months due to malfunctioning heating appliances, unattended fireplaces and a range of other factors. Stephen Combs, a spokesperson for the Bluffton Township Fire District, encouraged residents to utilize the department’s free smoke alarm assistance services — including battery replacements and installations — via the “How Do I...?” section of its website.
The historic building was at least the third Beaufort County home destroyed by fires this December. The day prior, a mobile home near Old Town Bluffton burned to the ground in an accident likely involving an overloaded extension cord. On Dec. 3, a house fire in a Hilton Head Island gated community killed the mother of one of the homeowners.
This story was originally published December 26, 2024 at 11:39 AM.
