Three separate volunteer fire departments were called in to extinguish a fire twice at the home of Catherine Jackson at 8442 E. B. Cooper Highway Monday night.
Crews from Walthourville, Riceboro and Midway Volunteer Fire Departments responded to the call around 6 p.m.
"We had a full complement for the call," Riceboro Fire Chief Earl McGinley said. "It was toned out originally as a grease fire in the kitchen. As more calls came in the fire extended into more areas of the kitchen."
McGinely said the cause of the fire is still being investigated by county Fire Investigator/Coordinator James Ashdown, but appears to have started out as a grease fire.
"It accelerated," he said. "It was contained to the kitchen. We had the fire under control within the first half hour."
Firefighters worked the scene for three hours and, according to McGinley, the heat was hard on firefighters. They also had two injuries, one firefighter injured his knee and another strained his back.
All three stations were put to the test as a call came in at midnight indicating the fire had re-ignited.
"There was some debris that had collapsed within the kitchen area," McGinley said. "And there may have been some smoldering going on underneath the debris and we believe that is what caused the rekindling."
Firefighters stayed at the house until 4 a.m.
"We stayed there until we made sure the fire would not rekindle," McGinley said.
The chief said Ashdown and the homeowner are still trying to determine if she can continue to live in the house. He said there is flame and smoke damage to the kitchen and smoke damage throughout the structure.
Calls to Ashdown Tuesday were not returned by press time.
Crews from Walthourville, Riceboro and Midway Volunteer Fire Departments responded to the call around 6 p.m.
"We had a full complement for the call," Riceboro Fire Chief Earl McGinley said. "It was toned out originally as a grease fire in the kitchen. As more calls came in the fire extended into more areas of the kitchen."
McGinely said the cause of the fire is still being investigated by county Fire Investigator/Coordinator James Ashdown, but appears to have started out as a grease fire.
"It accelerated," he said. "It was contained to the kitchen. We had the fire under control within the first half hour."
Firefighters worked the scene for three hours and, according to McGinley, the heat was hard on firefighters. They also had two injuries, one firefighter injured his knee and another strained his back.
All three stations were put to the test as a call came in at midnight indicating the fire had re-ignited.
"There was some debris that had collapsed within the kitchen area," McGinley said. "And there may have been some smoldering going on underneath the debris and we believe that is what caused the rekindling."
Firefighters stayed at the house until 4 a.m.
"We stayed there until we made sure the fire would not rekindle," McGinley said.
The chief said Ashdown and the homeowner are still trying to determine if she can continue to live in the house. He said there is flame and smoke damage to the kitchen and smoke damage throughout the structure.
Calls to Ashdown Tuesday were not returned by press time.