A fire broke out at Pine Island park, prompting a response from Irmo Fire District, along with crews from Lexington and Columbia-Richland, around 11:30 am on April 15. The fire occurred at the park manager’s residence, resulting in the destruction of the home’s garage, which served as storage for both the residence and the park.
Firefighters were able to contain the fire within 10 minutes, but reports of visible smoke rising from the island were observed from as far away as the Lake Murray dam. Fortunately, the new park manager was not present at the residence when the fire started, as they were in the process of moving in.
Despite the quick response, the fire caused significant damage, destroying a park vehicle, grills, and some personal belongings that the family had recently moved in over the weekend. The home itself sustained heavy damage.
Pine Island, which was acquired by the state as part of the Dominion settlement in 2021, was formerly a private lakefront club for SCE&G employees. It was scheduled to reopen as a state park later in the fall. The fire is a setback to these plans, but efforts will likely be made to address the damage and continue with the park’s reopening.
