Early-morning fires claim 3 homes

Six children are being hailed as "saviors" after they alerted their father to a fire that started because of an electrical short in their bedroom early Thursday.

The fire that destroyed their Moncks Corner-area home was one of three house fires in the morning hours that left at least 10 people homeless and killed a family pet. Fire also destroyed homes on James Island and in Ravenel.

Moncks Corner Rural Fire Chief Scott Lee said the fire at 217 Mattie Lane started about 5:40 a.m. in a children's bedroom. The children woke up their father. Their mother had already left for work.

"The kids were actually saviors this morning by getting their daddy up," Lee said.

The father rushed the children to a relative's house next door before firefighters arrived to find the blaze already coming out of the roof of the two-story block structure.

Lee said response was delayed by a live power line in the yard. It was turned off and the fire was contained about 30 minutes later, he said.

The family's pit bull that was tied to a tree with a heavy chain died as a result of the fire. Firefighters braving the heat couldn't free it in time, Lee said.

Whitesville, Santee Circle and Macedonia fire departments assisted in putting out the blaze.

The family of eight has set up a Dixon Family fund at any Carolina First Bank for anyone who would like to help.

The Carolina Lowcountry Chapter of the American Red Cross assisted the family as well as two people who lost their Ravenel home to a fire.

St. Paul's firefighters responded to a single-wide mobile home at 5954 McKnight Village Road in Ravenel about 7:30 a.m., Battalion Chief Curtis Washington said.

He said the structure was already engulfed when they arrived and burned completely. No one was inside when they arrived and no one was hurt.

Three fire departments also put out a fire on James Island early Thursday morning.

James Island, Charleston and St. Andrews firefighters responded to 1732 James Prioleau Road at 1:13 a.m. and found the house engulfed, James Island Fire Department Battalion Chief Thomas Glick said.

Glick said the roof and walls caved in. Firefighters brought it under control in about an hour using a ladder truck.

There were no signs that anyone was home at the time, he said.

Since the house was engulfed when they arrived and because no one was home, firefighters contacted the Charleston Fire Department's fire marshal and Charleston County Sheriff's Office to help in the investigation, Glick said.

The Sheriff's Office was investigating the possibility of arson.

The local Red Cross chapter has assisted 1,120 people in the seven-county Lowcountry region since Jan. 1.

Anyone who would like to help can contact the Red Cross at 843 764-2323 ext. 368 or by visiting http://www.LowcountryRedCross.org.