Dillon County, SC cited for violating public safety codes after January fire injured two firefighters in the town of Latta, SC
By Jamarlo Phillips Updated: August 4, 2016, 8:25 am
DILLON, SC (WBTW) – The South Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Dillon County after two firefighters were severely burned after a January house fire in the town of Latta.
The two firefighters injured were Latta Fire Chief Bobby Jones and BJ Sturgeon.
Jones was treated and released from a local hospital after the fire. Sturgeon was taken to the Augusta Burn Center because his injuries were severe.
Since the fire Dillon County is being cited for three safety code violations totaling about $2,300.
The first violation states Dillon County Public Safety failed to furnish a place of employment free of recognized hazards that may cause death or serious physical harm to employees.
The second violation says the employer should have known that firefighters were responding to the home on Calm Street back in January.
Third violation reports monthly inspections were not conducted within the last three years on self-contained breathing apparatus at fire station 2.
Dillon County Administrator Clay Young tells News 13 the county is negotiating with OSHA and will be addressing the three violations.
Young says OSHA has given the county positive recommendations that will help improve the Latta Fire Department and all fire departments across the county. He says the county is looking to implement additional procedures along with replacing old fire equipment.
Captain Matt Jackson with the Latta Fire Department says both firefighters hurt earlier this year are doing much better.
Jackson says the fire department and the county are now working together to become in compliance with all three citations.
“Ever since January, our training has picked up a tremendous amount. A lot of it has been more recorded and our hours of training have been increased. I can’t speak for others but on behalf of Dillon County Station 2…all of our training and our guys are doing very well,” said Jackson.
Dillon County Administrator Clay Young says the county is negotiating with OSHA and hopefully in the next three or four weeks they will get an answer on what exactly the county will need to do to become in compliance with safety codes.
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Two Latta firefighters recovering from fire injuries
By Kelly Matter, Video Editor
(Source: Facebook)
LATTA, SC (WMBF)- Two local firefighters are recovering from injuries following an explosion that sent them flying through the air.
“When I came from church it was engulfed in fire,” James Brown, who lives across from the home that caught on fire said. According to a Latta Police report, fire crews were called to a mobile home on Calm Street on Saturday.
The report said crews found a small fire that started because of a clutter of electrical cords. But that incident has not been tied to the fire that injured Latta’s Fire Chief and another firefighter the following day.
Flames engulfed the home on Sunday, and the two suited up and went inside. One was Latta Fire Chief Bobby Jones and the other was crew member BJ Sturgeon.
Shortly after they entered the burning structure an explosion sent the two flying through the air.
The blast knocked off Sturgeon’s mask, Chief Jones was able to recover and drag him out of the building.
“When I saw them they were pulling him out of the fire. I didn’t know what was happening. I didn’t know if it was somebody who got burned inside….later I learned it was a firefighter,” Brown said.
Chief Jones suffered smoke inhalation and a few burns, but Sturgeon’s burns are serious and he still at the Augusta Burn Center.
Brown said he knew his neighbors whose home went up in flames, he said that family is ok.
On Monday night Chief Jones showed up to a prayer revival the town had for him and Sturgeon.
“I’m sore. I’m going to be out of work for a week, but I want to thank everybody for their prayers and concerns,” Jones said.
A gofundme account has been set up for the victims.
Copyright 2016 WMBF News. All rights reserved.
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Two firefighters burned responding to fire in Latta
By Jonee' Lewis Published: January 24, 2016, 3:35 pm Updated: January 26, 2016, 10:51 am
LATTA, SC (WBTW) – Officials with the Dillon County Fire Department say two firefighters were injured responding to a fire Sunday afternoon.
Firefighters say crews responded around 2:00 p.m. to a fire on Calm Street in Latta. Two firefighters were injured responding to the fire, according to the fire department.
Officials say one firefighter had minor burns and another had first and second degree burns. According to the Latta Fire Department, the two men injured in Sunday’s fire were BJ Sturgeon and Bobby Jones. Sturgeon was airlifted Sunday afternoon to the Augusta Burn Center. Sturgeon is on a ventilator. Jones was taken to Dillon hospital for treatment. He was released Monday night.
A prayer vigil was held for the two firefighters Monday evening at 7 p.m. at the Dillon Church of God’s Life Center.
The cause of the fire is now under investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.