Fire gave Fuller new outlook

Ian Fuller thought he was dreaming and ignored the pounding on his back door.

It was nearly 3 a.m. on an early spring night and, really, who could be banging on his door at this hour? But as Fuller stumbled out of bed and made his way into his kitchen, he quickly realized he was in trouble.

At the back door, on the fire escape, he saw his neighbor. She was beating on the door urging Fuller to get out because the apartment was on fire.

"It was one of those situations where you don't know if you're dreaming or if you're awake," Fuller said. "My neighbor is screaming that the place is on fire and I look to my right and my entire front porch is just engulfed in flames. I knew I needed to get the hell out of there."

As the fire continued to consume Fuller's third story apartment, the Charleston Battery midfielder scrambled to get out.

"I started to panic a little bit," Fuller said. "I was looking around thinking about what I should grab and the only thing I could reach was my keys and cell phone. So, I got those and went to the back door."

The door wouldn't budge. The dead bolt lock wouldn't turn.

"I hear the windows break and I could feel the heat on my back," Fuller said. "That's when it got scary. I tore my hand up trying to get the door open, but I finally got it open and down the fire escape I went."

When Fuller got to street level he watched his apartment and his belongings go up in flames as firefighters battled the blaze.

"It's kind of a surreal moment," Fuller said of that night last April. "You're thinking how lucky you are to still be alive, but then you've lost just about everything you own."

Fuller had moved into the three-story Antebellum house on Montagu Street in downtown Charleston just eight days prior to the fire .

"I was finally living alone and I was in a perfect location near all the sororities at the College of Charleston," Fuller said with a chuckle. "It was such a great apartment. It was in a beautiful house with vaulted ceilings. It couldn't have been nicer."

Since the fire, Fuller has lived with teammate John Wilson.

"John's roommate moved to Colombia, South America, so it couldn't have worked out better for me," Fuller said. "John was very gracious to let me stay with him."

Fuller, a former Clemson soccer star, has been overwhelmed by the support he has received from the community.

"The owners and fans have been fantastic," Fuller said. "I got a bunch of gift certificates and support from everyone. It has really restored my faith in humanity."

Fuller has battled through injuries all season. He was forced to miss more than a month of the season when he tore his hamstring.

"I would have liked to have gotten on the score sheet a little more than I have this season," Fuller said.

"But the team has been winning and that's all that really matters."

Reach Andrew Miller at apmiller@postandcourier.com and check out the Charleston Battery's 'Battery Shots' blog at, www.postandcourier/blogs/battery.