Wind Driven Blaze Consumes Luxury Island Homes

By: J. Combs & J. Hardwick

May 5, 2003

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA. - Fire alarms rang out Monday, May 5, 2003 in 94-degree temperatures at 14:52 hours.  Fire engines and a ladder company responded from station 2 near the beaches and station 4 at the central island fire station.  A second report from dispatch indicated that more than one beach cottage was on fire. An engine company from the North end of St. Simons Island responded as well.  While en route to the scene, Deputy Chief Hal Herndon instructed dispatch to notify both the Ballard and St. Simons Island volunteer divisions and off duty on call personnel to respond to the incident.  Additional apparatus were called up to respond to the emergency, and to stage in the event of additional fire and EMS calls on the island.

First in engines arrived finding a 67-year-old historic cottage located at 742 Oglethorpe Avenue fully involved.  Heavy black smoke and flames made vision difficult.  Workers, placing hot tar on the roof, are believed to have caused the fire.  The beach cottage, composed mostly of heart pine, and built before building setbacks were in place and enforced was just a couple of feet off the property line.  While the recently completed four million dollar high-rise beachfront condominium was within its building setbacks there was only a little over 9 feet between the two structures.  To the North and East stand two other expensive residential exposures.  With high ocean breezes firefighters knew a major battle was to take place and the heat made the incident that more challenging.

It was evident that the center cottage was lost.  Exposures were already blazing. The ladder truck, on location, was deployed and a second ladder tower was called from the mainland to assist.  Chief Carl Johnson arrived to assume command.  The Glynn County Water Department was notified and directed to increase water pressure in the area to aid in fire suppression operations.  The water department responded and activated an emergency pump to increase the water pressure in the area to accommodate the additional strain on the system.

The strong ocean breeze, normally considered a desirable feature along the coast, channeled air between the three and four story buildings like a blast furnace transferring fire and heat to the adjacent structures.  This effect of the radiant heat and direct flame transfer was problematic to firefighters due to the close proximity of nearby structures.  Firefighters had additional difficulty battling the blaze, as they had to fight from an upwind position.  Large crowds of tourists, media, and island residents came to witness the fire firsthand from the beach side and from the road where fire apparatus lined up in full deployment.

Through the course of the afternoon and early evening black smoke could be seen for miles.  This attracted spectators from the surrounding area that further choked roads and thoroughfares restricting access to the incident.

The heat also created a major problem for rehab personnel but was quickly solved as neighbors and passer-bys assisted by offering food, drink, and fresh fruit to exhausted firefighters battling the inferno in temperatures that lingered in the mid 90’s.  Area restaurants also assisted, by donating food to the firefighters, at the scene and back at stations.

Dangers lurked everywhere for the firefighters.  Embers fell from the upper stories of the multi-story condominiums.  A large section of roof fell 40 feet to land just a few feet away from working firefighters.  A leaking gas line was located behind a melted trashcan.  Firefighters also had to shuttle 2 ½ inch attack lines up ladders and stairways to the third and fourth floors so water could reach the upper levels of the burning structure.

Firefighters earned praise from the crowd that gathered to watch.  For many, it was the first time they had ever seen firefighters enter a burning structure in a seemly impossible situation.  Julie Andrew, a spectator watching from the beach, was astounded, “hose firefighters are standing between those burning buildings which are already too close together.”  Another spectator was heard saying that "Those guys are an impressive site to see” speaking of the firefighters.  Roland Daniels wrote in an e-mail accompanying the photographs "You guys did a great job; I went back about 8pm and expected nothing in the area to be left standing.  My hat's off to you."

It took firefighters about three hours to bring the blaze under control.  At one count there were over sixty volunteer and career fire suppression personnel at the scene.  Department personnel and apparatus remained on scene until 22:51 hours performing overhaul operations with a continual fire watch running throughout the night.  One of the structures involved, the 67-year-old beach cottage, was totally destroyed with extensive damage to the adjacent condominium properties.  Combined damage to the buildings is estimated in the millions of dollars.

Glynn County Fire Chief Carl Johnson wrote the firefighters, “I want to extend my personal gratitude for the tremendous response and effort by everyone who responded to the multi-structure fire on Oglethorpe Avenue.” “ Everyone played a key part in preventing this fire from becoming an incident of much greater consequence.”  “I am proud of each and every person who played a part in this incident.”  “Thank you for a job well done!” Letters have already arrived thanking the firefighters for a “fabulous” job.  The Carmichaels, owners of an adjacent structure, stated,  “We just want to personally thank each and every one of the many volunteer and regular firefighters that showed up to help save our parent’s home.”  “You will always be in our hearts and prayers.”

The combination of resources committed, combined with the circumstances at the incident and property lost, makes this one of the most significant fires that the department has responded to in many years.

Related:

The Brunswick News: "Fire Damages Homes"

Florida Times Union: "Monday's fire started by roofers"

First Coast News: "Fire destroys one home, damages 2 others on St. Simon's Island"

News4Jax.com: "Three Buildings Burn In St. Simons Historic District"

GCFD Photo Album:  "Oglethorpe Ave Fire #1, #2, & #3"