Two early Tuesday morning Bluffton fires result in no injuries; one home destroyed

BLUFFTON, S.C. (WTOC) — First responders in Bluffton had an active start to Tuesday, battling two separate early morning structure fires that destroyed one residential home but caused no injuries.

Emergency officials say both incidents highlight the vital role that working fire safety systems play in saving lives and property.

Smoke alarm saves resident from devastating Vine Street fire

The first emergency call came in just after 2:20 a.m. Tuesday, August 18 for a house fire on Vine Street.

Officials confirmed that a working smoke alarm successfully alerted the lone occupant inside, allowing them to escape the burning house unharmed before fire crews arrived.

“This fire is a powerful reminder of why working smoke alarms matter,” said Bluffton Township Fire Chief David Hindman. “The early warning they provided gave this resident the time needed to get out safely.”

Nine emergency units—including multiple engines, a heavy rescue team, and a ladder company—responded to the scene. Firefighters spent several hours getting the flames under control, but the home was unfortunately declared a total loss. Investigators are still working to determine what started the fire.

Kitchen fire at Bluestone Apartments suppressed by sprinkler system

Just before 7:30 a.m., crews were dispatched to a water flow alarm at the Bluestone Apartments off Bluffton Parkway.

Firefighters arrived to find a kitchen fire in a first-floor unit, but the apartment building’s sprinkler system had already triggered and fully put out the flames. Because of the quick automatic suppression, the fire was contained to the single kitchen and did not spread to any neighboring units.

The incident is believed to have been a cooking fire, though the official cause remains under investigation.

Red Cross steps in to help

The American Red Cross is currently assisting the residents displaced by both fires. BTFD continues to encourage all residents to test their household smoke alarms monthly and replace the batteries once a year.