Two people, including a firefighter, were injured and at least six units were damaged in a Jan. 17 fire at County Line Self-Storage in Greenwood.
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A mid-January fire at a Greenwood self-storage facility was caused by cigarette use next to propane gas, officials say.
At 6:13 a.m. Jan. 17, firefighters were called to a structure fire at County Line Self-Storage, 1485 W. County Line Road. Witnesses reported that storage units were on fire, and firefighters later reported that a unit was on fire with a car involved.
The fire was marked under control about 44 minutes after firefighters arrived. A little over an hour later, firefighters were able to confirm that all of the fire was out, according to a Greenwood Fire Department news release.
Fire investigators from the Greenwood fire and police departments responded to investigate the cause and origin of the fire. On Monday, Greenwood Fire spokesperson Tyler Swardson said the cause of the fire was determined to be the “combined use and mishandling of flammable gas and smoking material.”
It is believed that a man was handling a propane can while smoking a cigarette, but it is unclear what the exact action was that caused the fire to ignite, Swardson said.
An individual who rents a unit at the complex reportedly told paramedics on scene that he had been living in his storage unit on and off for some time. Officials said at the time it was unclear if he was living in the unit at the time of the fire, and he was taken to a hospital in serious condition.
A Greenwood firefighter was also injured on scene. He has been treated and released by Franciscan medical staff and was expected be on light duty during his recovery, the news release says.
