Police release bodycam footage from fire that damaged Rincon business
RINCON, Ga. (WTOC) - Fire crews responded to a structure fire early Monday morning in Effingham County.
It started around 4:15 a.m. at Monte Wash and Detail in the 200 block of S Columbia Ave/Highway 21 near E 10th Street in Rincon. The Rincon Fire Chief says it took fire crews 45 minutes to put the fire out.
The building was heavily damaged. No injuries were reported.
Body camera video shows the men who helped residents get out of their homes and away from the flames.
“We heard a loud boom when we went outside as soon as the call was dispatched,” said Corp. Kurtis Smith with Rincon Police Department.
Rincon Police officers who were first on scene closed Highway 21 for safety as Monty’s Car Wash lit up the pre-dawn sky.
“And that’s when Officer Nicholson yelled out about the apartments behind them, so we all took off running and went straight to those buildings first,” said Smith.
That’s where the Bennett family and others were home sleeping.
“It was a little frightening when all you can see is this big orange glow over there,” said Kennith Bennett.
Officer Marquise Parker helped get the smallest of Bennett’s children into a car seat while Officer Daniel Nicholson helped the other child.
“Grabbed the young daughter and ran her to his car because she said she was cold,” said Smith. “Grateful that they were able to wake us up and get us out of the way of danger. Thanking them for what they had done, especially the officer continuing to do his job while he was holding my daughter.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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