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Fifteen firefighters responded to this blaze on Byrd Street.
Firefighters battle a blaze at this house on Byrd Street in the City of Barnwell on Nov. 27. While the house was destroyed, the owner and his dogs were unharmed.
Flames and smoke filled this home on Byrd Street Nov. 27.
Firefighter Mark Cato attacks the fire from above.
Relatives and neighbors of Justin Baxley watch as firefighters battle the fire at his Byrd Street home.
A Barnwell man and his dogs are safe following a fire that destroyed their home.
Justin Baxley, 25, left his Byrd Street home around 6 p.m. to go to work. He received a call around 8 p.m. that his house was on fire.
“So thankful Justin was at work and is okay and his sweet neighbors rescued his dogs. Justin worked so hard for this house, but God has a plan for him we don’t understand,” said Yvonne Birt, Baxley’s grandmother.
After seeing a “pink glow in the trees”, a neighbor realized Baxley’s house was on fire. The neighbor ran across the street where he banged on the door to see if anyone was home. He attempted to call 911 but dropped his phone in the process. The neighbor asked to remain anonymous for this article. However, the neighbor flagged down Josh Urwick to call 911. Urwick was driving down Hagood Avenue when he noticed flames one block over and made a detour to Byrd Street.
“It looks like it started on the back porch. The entire attic was burning from one end to other when we arrived,” said Fire Chief Phillip Delk with the Barnwell City Fire Department. Chief Delk could see flames above the trees when he turned onto Byrd Street.
Approximately 15 firefighters responded to battle the blaze, which is believed to have started on the back deck and spread up the back wall where it got into the eaves. Firefighters had the fire under control in about 45 minutes and remained on scene for a couple hours.
“We are pretty solid on the cause and origin,” said Chief Delk. Though they haven’t determined the exact cause, he said it could have been a heat lamp or a wiring issue.
The house is a total loss but thankfully no one was injured.
“I’m so glad he wasn’t in there,” said Crystal Baxley of her son Justin.
Despite the loss, Baxley said he is grateful to the firefighters for their “quick response.”
Baxley’s two dogs, which were in the backyard at the time, were unharmed, though they were “soaking wet, cold and frightened,” said neighbor Jessica Lopez.
Lopez and her husband Omar took the dogs to their home down the street to get them warm and dry while firefighters battled the scene.
“All my daughter kept saying was, ‘Mommy, we need to help the dogs, go get them.’ She loves pets and all she had to do was put her hands out and say ‘come here’ and they both ran to her,” said Lopez of her daughter, Alyssa Blanco.
Baxley said he appreciates the Lopez family for taking care of his dogs during his time of need and keeping them safe.
Though she didn’t know Baxley by name before the fire, Lopez said she is “heartbroken” for Baxley to lose his home at such a young age. However, “it is good to know we have our street neighbors who care for one another even though we don’t know them by name,” she said.
Baxley bought the home approximately two years ago when he was 23. His family said he’s worked hard to become a homeowner.
“I appreciate everybody’s concern,” said Baxley of everyone who has helped, donated, or reached out in some way following the fire.
To help Baxley, donate via Venmo to @cbaxley3.
