NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Authorities arrested multiple people after a series of fires tied to an unhoused encampment burned about three acres of private property over three days near Interstate 26, officials said.
The North Charleston Police and Fire departments responded April 20 to a brush fire along eastbound I-26 near Weber Boulevard and Blue House Road. The fire was traced to a large encampment and quickly grew to about one acre, according to officials. Multiple propane tanks inside the encampment exploded during the response, forcing firefighters and officers to temporarily evacuate for safety.
The South Carolina Forestry Commission, operating under an active burn ban, helped contain the fire using a bulldozer to cut a fire line. Investigators said the blaze began when Rodney Allen Low attempted to ignite a propane tank. Low was arrested and charged with negligently allowing fire to spread and trespassing. Another person was arrested on unrelated warrants while two others were released with trespassing warnings…