Vehicle sparks blamed for Aiken brush fire
Forestry officials think a fire that burned more than 200 acres in Aiken County on Thursday might have been started by a vehicle "throwing sparks" as it traveled down the road.
Scott Hawkins, a spokesman for the South Carolina Forestry Commission, said Friday that there were multiple points of ignition along the road, which typically means a vehicle created the sparks.
"That could be having a chain on a trailer drag or sparks flying off a piece of metal like a muffler," Mr. Hawkins said.
The brush fire was contained to an area off Snipes Pond Road on Thursday night, and Mr. Hawkins said it is likely to remain that way for several days.
A "skeleton crew" of firemen will monitor the site over the weekend, said Aiken County sheriff's Sgt. Dave Myers.
About 45 firefighters from several agencies spent the day fighting the fires that threatened, but did not damage, nearby homes.
One firefighter suffered minor burns and two were treated for heat exhaustion Thursday.
Arson is to blame in church fire
The Aiken County Sheriff's Office is blaming arson for an early morning fire at Rocksville Baptist Church, 660 Pine St., Warrenville.
According to a news release, neighbors heard the church alarm go off about 6 a.m. and saw smoke.
The Langley Fire Department responded quickly, and d amage from smoke and heat was moderate .
Sheriff's investigators don't believe the church was a target of a hate crime, but there is an active criminal investigation .
Anyone with information is asked to contact Lt. Clay Adams with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office at (800) 922-9709.
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