Horry County officials have clarified earlier remarks that suggested volunteer firefighters didn't provide an adequate response during a fatal house fire on Sept. 14.
In the days following the fire on Firehouse Road, media and family members of the victims asked why a nearby Cates Bay fire station was unmanned.
The response was that the county didn't have money to staff every single station in Horry County.
The public perception became that the volunteers weren't on scene and never provided help. In fact, Horry County Fire Rescue Chief Garry Alderman said Conway firefighters were the first on scene.
And he told The Sun News that it was "unfortunate that Cates Bay station didn't get out."
However, 911 tapes from that night reveal that the first firefighter on scene was the volunteer captain from the Cates Bay station.
The volunteer, known on the radio as Cates Bay 3, was en route to the fire station to get an engine when he passed the fire. However, according to the county's public safety director, Cates Bay 3 stopped at the fire, knowing other engines were already en route.
"Which in my mind is a good call," said the director, Paul Whitten. "I mean, he was driving by it ... he couldn't just keep moving. He stopped to render aid, and then he was able to get on the radio and pass information about what he found."
It's true Cates Bay 3 didn't have an engine and couldn't begin battling the fire with water, but he was able to assess the situation and provide critical information to 911 dispatchers.
"His assistance was able to confirm entrapment and do some things that allowed us to bring some more resources," Whitten said.
The woman inside the home, Angela Cannon, died in the fire.
Whitten said a lack of proper communication led to the perception that volunteers didn't provide assistance.
He said Chief Alderman's comments on Conway firefighters being first on scene were meant to suggest Conway had the first engine on scene, not the first firefighter.
"No one has misled or done anything. It's a misunderstanding of terminology by some of the people not in the fire service, and I think that's the problem that we've had is the misperception," Whitten explained.
