Chapin, SC (Paul Kirby) A large, pull-behind camper was damaged by fire Tuesday morning around 11 a.m. on Columbia Avenue in Chapin. The camper was being towed behind a pickup truck when smoke started billowing from it right at the upper parking lot in front of the gymnasium at Chapin High School. The truck was towing it toward the interstate when the driver apparently realized that the camper was on fire and pulled off.
Firefighters from Chapin’s main station on East Boundary Street were the first to arrive on the scene. They quickly pulled their bumper line and brought the fire under control. It appeared as if the damage to the unit was all to the camper portion, and not to the truck that was pulling it.
According to Chapin Police Chief Seth Zeigler, the driver of the combination unit said he had just left his site at Billy Dreher Island State Park a short time before he noticed the smoke and called for help. Although Dreher Island is in Newberry County, going through Chapin is often the most common route to I-26 from that park.
Chapin firefighters remained on the scene to help with the traffic that was having to swerve around the camper. It appeared as if the owner or driver of the unit was trying to disconnect the truck and camper from one another. Someone had already unloaded some of his personal possessions on the side of the road.
The cause of the fire has not been released by the fire service. It doesn't appear as if anyone was injured by the blaze.
