FLORENCE – A Tuesday night fire heavily damaged the home of Florence businessman and one-time state senatorial candidate Tim Norwood.
The fire destroyed the attic and damaged the second floor and left the remaining areas of the Byrnes Boulevard residence with smoke and water damage.
Windy Hill Fire Rescue was aided by Florence City Fire Department and Howe Springs Volunteer Fire Department, Windy Hill Chief John DeLung said.
One Florence firefighter was injured fighting the blaze and was treated and released at a local hospital, DeLung said.
Three people, Norwood, his wife and son, and two dogs in the home escaped without injury.
The residence was a dream home that had been planned for several years, Norwood said.
The fire started about 10:15, Norwood said.
“We were in bed, watching a movie, ready to go to sleep, Norwood said.
His wife heard something that sounded like someone was breaking in and, when he went to investigate, Norwood said he saw fire on the home’s screened-in porch.
Norwood said his wife called 911 while he grabbed an extinguisher, which didn’t work.
By then the fire had spread up into the attic, Norwood said.
Firefighters were challenged by the size of the home – 6,000 square feet with a 24-foot ceiling in some areas, DeLung said.
“Everyone did what they could,” Norwood said.
DeLung said the three departments worked well together fighting the fire.
DeLung added firefighters were deployed on both sides of the home to protect neighboring residences, which were not damaged in the blaze.
As firefighting efforts wound down, firefighters, the family and neighbors helped salvage keepsakes and other items from the home, DeLung said.
Firefighters were on the scene about five hours, DeLung said.
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