The Nakina Fire and Rescue Station 29 caught fire Monday, March 3, damaging the department’s pumper-tanker and a tanker, the agency said in a Facebook post. The pumper-tanker had been involved in a wreck less than 24 hours prior to the station fire, an accident in which there were no injuries.
The Nakina Fire and Rescue and the Tabor City Fire Department were dispatched to Pireway Fire Department Station 29 (a Nakina substation) at around 4:30 p.m. Monday in response to a reported structure fire. Additional assistance was quickly requested from the Brunswick Fire Department, Williams Township Fire Department, Grissettown Longwood Fire & Rescue, Waccamaw Fire and Rescue, North Carolina Highway Patrol, and the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office.
Lake Waccamaw Fire and Rescue also responded, providing an engine and ambulance to cover emergency calls during the incident.
Upon arrival, engine crews encountered heavy black smoke emerging from the building, which had been reported prior to their arrival. Crews immediately entered the building, where they discovered the cab and engine area of Engine 29, a 2006 Freightliner pumper-tanker, engulfed in flames. Tanker 29, another vehicle assigned to the station, also sustained significant damage.
It is important to note that Engine 29 had been involved in a collision less than 24 hours prior, while returning from assisting Horry County with the wildland fires, the department said in the post. No personnel were injured during the collision or the subsequent fire.
“I would like to personally extend my deepest gratitude to all the responders who came to our aid during this critical event,” Nakina Chief Victor Q. Jacobs said in the post. “The quick and coordinated effort from all involved has been nothing short of remarkable. I am also asking that our members, and our paid staff are kept in your thoughts and prayers as we move forward in the coming days.
“I want to reassure the community that we have emergency plans in place and are working diligently to ensure that we continue to provide the level of service that our residents expect and deserve. Though we have faced many challenges, I want to emphasize that these setbacks will not deter us. We are committed to keeping our community safe and are prepared to overcome any obstacles that may come our way.
“Thank you again to all who have supported us. Your partnership and unwavering dedication to the safety of our community mean the world to us. We will remain strong and continue to serve with pride and dedication.”
