Charleston South Carolina Fire Department

Officials: Fire off Hwy 78 extinguished

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- Officials believe a fire at a Lowcountry landscaping company that caused traffic issues on Highway 78 has been extinguished.

Traffic on Highway 78 was reduced  in both directions on Monday morning due to the brush fire that had been burning since early Sunday afternoon.

Officials with the North Charleston Fire Department said the fire has been put out and that fire hoses no longer block the road.

As of 4:45 p.m. all lanes of Highway 78 were open to traffic.

North Charleston Fire Department spokesperson Bianca Sancic said the fire began in a pile of mulch.

"The heat of the day kinda compressed into the heat of the mulch and caused a fire," she said.

Sancic said the fire was contained on Sunday and crews worked overnight until they were able to extinguish the fire on Monday afternoon.

"It is kinda like a big campfire," Sancic said. "You have to break it apart, pour water on it and then spread it apart to make sure it is out."

Sancic said the fire was never a threat to any nearby structures and that the only real inconvenience was the closing of the road due to the department's need to run hose across Highway 78 to a fire hydrant.

Traffic diverted by brush fire | The Post and Courier, Charleston ...

A smoky brush fire in North Charleston diverted traffic on U.S. Highway 78 this afternoon.

Firefighters were called at 1:41 Sunday to handle a large mulch fire burning behind 9421 Highway 78, North Charleston Fire Department Public Information Officer Bianca Sancic said.

Four engines and a ladder truck remained on the scene throughout the afternoon to monitor three large mulch and wood piles smoldering on the property.

Traffic was being diverted around a fire department water supply line laid across the highway, delaying traffic on Highway 78 between I-26 and Ladson Road.

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