2 fires hit same property: First blaze was in pile of wood, second was in storage shed near house

After pouring hundreds of gallons of water Thursday morning onto a burning pile of wood outside a Race Street home, Charleston firefighters thought their job was done.

But a little more than two hours after they left, firefighters were called back for a second blaze, this time with reports of a house fire.

The homeowner, Willie Bailey, said he was around the corner when he heard about the second fire. "There was a kindly neighbor that told me I'd better get back here as soon as I can, I've got a fire in my yard," Bailey said.

Earlier, about 9 or 10 a.m., Bailey noticed that a pile of wood outside his house was on fire. He called the Charleston Fire Department.

Mark Ruppel, a spokesman for the department, said about 300 gallons of water was poured on the burning wood pile, and that everyone thought the fire was extinguished.

The second call came in at about 2:40 p.m., Ruppel said. When the first firefighters arrived, they saw flames and heavy smoke. A storage shed behind the house was fully ablaze. Firefighters began pouring water on the fire and on nearby structures, including Bailey's house.

Bailey said he had been storing some refrigerators and old furniture in the shed. He said he suspects that both fires were set, and he also said he had some ideas about who might have done it.

Ruppel said the department is investigating both fires.

The Fire Department asked SCE&G Co. to disconnect electrical power to Bailey's house because there were extension cords running from the house to the shed, Ruppel said. Turning off the power will reduce the risk of fire in the shed, or in the house, he said.

Paul Bowers contributed to this report. Reach David W. MacDougall at 937-5655.