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Firefighters from multiple departments across the state respond to Hagood Avenue Baptist Church in Barnwell after lightning struck the steeple, igniting the roof. Crews were on scene for 12-plus hours.
Crews work a hotspot from the roof.
Brandon Howard, youth minister at Hagood, holds the cross that once sat atop the steeple. The cross was intact after lightning struck the steeple on August 11, causing a fire.
Donations of bottled water, Gatorade, food, and more quickly came in after fire erupted at Hagood Avenue Baptist Church. These were used to help the firefighters.
The interior of the church has been ravished by smoke, fire, and water damage. However, the stained glass stayed intact throughout the turmoil.
The church remains standing although the roof and ceiling have been damaged. Wooden ceiling panels are pictured laying amongst the pews.
The roof of Hagood was destroyed by the fire.
A firefighter breaks through the roof.
Savannah River Site Fire Department responded with a ladder truck to tackle the fire from above.
Numerous firefighters were present on the scene, all prepared to step in when needed.
Members of Hagood Avenue Baptist Church and local sheriff's deputies watch as the church roof burns.
Hagood Avenue Baptist Minister of Music and others watch helplessly as their church burns August 11.
New Barnwell City Fire Chief Phillip Delk relays instructions to firefighters on the scene of the church fire.
On the afternoon of Friday, August 11, the steeple atop Hagood Avenue Baptist Church (HABC) was struck by lightning and fire broke out.
Children at Barnwell Primary School, shoppers at Barnwell IGA, and residents living near Hagood Avenue all heard when the steeple was struck. Moments after, they heard sirens racing toward the church.
Crews spent the next 12-plus hours trying to control the fire– which was fully involved in the roof.
“Since I’ve been coordinator, this is probably the worst we’ve had in the county,” said Barnwell County Fire Coordinator Wesley Gatlin, who became coordinator late last year.
“We had our local responders respond and then started calling other agencies through our statewide mutual aid agreement and S.C. Firefighter Mobilization,” said Barnwell County Emergency Management Director Roger Riley.
Local departments raced to the scene such as the City of Barnwell, Williston, Blackville, Long Branch, Hilda, Friendship, as well as local law enforcement.
Responders from Lexington, Hampton, Aiken, Beaufort, Allendale, Jasper, Bamberg, Lancaster, and Dorchester counties all came to aid. Ladder trucks were brought by Savannah River Site, New Ellenton, and Hampton County fire departments.
The S.C. Fire Marshal’s office as well as S.C. Emergency Management also responded. The county’s EMS service, Thorne Ambulance, stayed on scene. The American Red Cross brought supplies which were housed in the Allendale and Barnwell Disabilities and Special Needs Board building nearby.
“This fire will go down as one of the most challenging fires in Barnwell based on where the fire is and the type of roof system,” said retiring City of Barnwell Fire Chief Tony Dicks. “Each building design has its challenges when fire occurs, and this design is a challenge as the fire is inside the roof system.”
“The issue they were having is the ceiling is tongue and groove,” said Gatlin. “There was a small void between the roof and the ceiling.”
This space between the roof and the ceiling harbored the fire, making it much more difficult for firefighters to tame it. During the first hours of the fire, chainsaws were being used to cut into the outer layer of the roof to get water inside.
In addition to the structure of the roof, the pitch, or steepness, of the roof posed an issue.
“The pitch of the roof makes it a lot more difficult and a lot more unsafe to send someone up there,” said Gatlin.
According to Dicks, HABC has a cathedral ceiling, making it beyond the reach of ground ladders and a six-and-a-half pitch roof “that is a high risk for walking upon much less working with tools and a wet surface,” said Dicks.
Lightning can reach over 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. When lightning strikes a building, it travels through the roof and walls leaving a smoldering path.
“Lightning will heat nails, bolts, wire, or any other metallic object to glowing red when it strikes and can travel from the strike point to the ground path of least resistance,” said Dicks. “So the fire is hidden between this roof system with low oxygen causing it to smolder but burn hot.”
According to the National Fire Protection Association, “lightning-related fires are more common in June through August and in the late afternoon and evening.”
Once news spread, a crowd gathered to support the first responders fighting the fire and the members of the HABC congregation watching smoke pour from their beloved building.
“It was amazing to see the outpouring of support from the church family and the community. We have never seen so many tents, coolers, cases of water/Gatorade, and food provided from the community to support all the units that responded. You all stayed all night to ensure nothing was needed,” said the Williston Fire Department on Facebook.
Firefighter Jamie Towne expressed his deepest gratitude for the “awesome support that we had.”
“It was hot, stressful, and tiresome, but everyone on scene gave 110%,” said Towne. “To all the fire departments that responded from near and far, thank you! We all worked together like we knew each other for years!”
“Hagood Church is a strong family and I foresee them pulling through this with no issues,” he said.
As it commonly goes in small towns, some of the first responders were also members of HABC or had family ties to the church.
"Responding to the call that day was a little different. As firefighters, we have faith in each other while protecting and serving others. I also have faith in Christ that this fire at HABC will be used to glorify God and show His goodness.” said Adam Bolen, responding firefighter and HABC member.
Phillip Delk and Scotty Hankins were sworn in as chief and deputy chief, respectively, of the City of Barnwell Fire Department only four days before the fire. Both men sprung into action, not only as veteran firefighters but in these new leadership positions, when the call went out.
“As a firefighter, when you have a call that deals with something like that there’s a lot that goes through your mind, but you have to remember to stay on the task at hand,” said Hankins. “My granddaddy, Floyd Atkinson, loved that church, he took me there with him. That’s when it became my home church, even though I’m not active there now. I know just about everyone there and they are still family to me. It was also the church my kids grew up in.”
Rev. Brandon Sandifer said, "Words are inadequate to express how much our entire Hagood Avenue church family appreciates all the love and support we have felt on this difficult day. Thank you to all the amazing firefighters and first responders who have worked tirelessly fighting the fire in our building. Thank you to our amazing community here in Barnwell and the surrounding area for all of your support today." He also thanks everyone who has called, texted, or posted on social media to show support and care.
Although their church building is nearly destroyed from both fire, smoke, and water damage, the members of HABC have maintained faith. They are finding solace in knowing a church extends past four walls and lives within the hearts of the congregation.
