Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
Firefighters remove debris from Sharon Carter's home after it caught fire Nov. 30.
Around 2 a.m. on Dec. 1, firefighters responded to a chimney fire on Highway 39 in Williston. A family of 11 is now without a livable home.
The Bell family is grateful for the community's support after a fire.
Two fires in two days have displaced two families and destroyed two homes.
The first of the two fires happened on Thursday, Nov. 30 around 6 a.m. on Glendale Road in Williston. Resident Sharon Carter was asleep when she woke up to the smell of smoke and the sound of fire crackling.
“God woke me up and told me to get out of there,” said Carter, who has lived in the home for just about two years.
Upon the arrival of the Williston Fire Department (WFD), Elko Fire Department (EFD), and the Long Branch Fire Department (LBFD), a significant amount of flames were seen from the front and rear of the residence.
After two hours of crews on the scene, Carter’s house was completely destroyed by fire and smoke. The origin of the fire is still unknown, but believed to potentially be electrical.
Both Carter and her dog were uninjured in the fire. They are currently staying with her son and are welcoming donations of any kind. Donations can be brought to Carter’s son’s house located at 299 Bennett Street, Williston.
“I am trying to make a life over,” said Carter, who is grateful to have received aid from the American Red Cross.
Not even 24 hours later, another Williston home went up in flames.
Around 2 a.m. on December 1, Ciera Bell rushed her children out of their home smoldering from a chimney fire.
“The fire chief told us, he said ‘Ma’am, if you would have went to sleep, you and your babies wouldn’t have made it out,’” said Bell. “We’re grateful to be here.”
Bell, a mother of 10, was winding down from a late night at work when she and her daughter noticed embers falling around them. They had recently started a fire in their fireplace to warm up the house, and at first thought the embers were due to that. They didn’t see any smoke or flames inside the home. However, when peering through a crack in the chimney, she saw nothing but red.
“When I saw the crystals the first time I didn't think anything of it because we were right at the fireplace,” said Bell. “When I got up and I looked into the crack, it was a crimson red. You could see nothing but red going all the way up.”
Bell ran outside to see a roof full of smoke, and then ran back inside to get her children out safely.
At the time of the fire, Bell, her four-month-old newborn, 17-year-old son, 19-year-old son, and 16-year-old daughter were in the home. The rest of her younger children were staying with their grandmother when the fire occurred.
The family only moved to their home on Highway 39, near the intersection of Sprawls Farm Road, in February 2021. They previously lived in Myrtle Beach and Columbia, and have been overwhelmed by the support from a community they are new to.
“These people really don’t know us,” said Bell. “They have come together and they are helping us. It is amazing. I have never seen it up close.”
There is currently a GoFundMe set up for Bell and her family. Donations of clothing, household items, or other necessities can be dropped off at 12941 Main Street in Williston.
Sizes for clothing include girls clothing sizes 12-14, boys clothing sizes 7-8, girls clothing sizes 7-8, boy clothing sizes 2T to 3T, and clothing sized four to five months.
The Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office has ‘adopted’ the family for Christmas, according to Bell and Lieutenant Eric Kirkland, and will provide support for the family throughout this time.
“I really appreciate y’all so much. My family, we are forever grateful,” said Bell of BCSO and the community response to this tragedy.
Although this incident prompted her family to ask her if she may consider moving home, Bell wants to stay in Barnwell County for her children’s education and to build a life.
“I am starting to feel myself root here, I just didn't want to up and leave,” said Bell.
Here's a link to the GoFundMe to help Bell and her family: https://gofund.me/05e4e85b.
The FFA at the Barnwell County Career Center is also collecting donations of household items, clothing, and other items to help the family. One of the children is an FFA member. Donations can be dropped off at the agricultural building at the BCCC. Or contact dstill@bccc80.com or 803-493-9282.
WFD Chief John Melton urges the community to get their fireplaces inspected and cleaned annually, plug in space heaters straight into the wall not into a power cord or extension strip, check for frayed wires, and keep flammable materials at minimum three feet from any heat source.
