This is a blog version of a Facebook Posting from May 4, 2020.
Photos by Bonny Banas (top) and [goes here] (bottom).
Looking back at the largest fire in the history of Bald Head Island in Brunswick County, NC. It destroyed ten buildings with 38 units at the Swan’s Quarter Condominiums on Wednesday night, September 30, 1993.
The fire was reported about 10:00 p.m. by vacationers renting one of the units, who saw flames through a skylight. By the time island firefighters arrived a few minutes later–the volunteers riding in golf carts, while others brought the island’s only fire truck–one of the buildings was ‘completely engulfed in flames’ and the flames had spread to a second building.
Additional firefighters from the mainland were brought to the island by the ferries Revenge and Adventure, that carried crews from South Port and Long Beach, and by the Coast Guard, crews from Yaupon Beach. Southport Rescue Squad members were also brought to the island, to assist Bald Head island medical personnel.
The regular ferry had stopped running its regular schedule at 10:30 p.m. Emergency procedures—including restarting the ferry—had started by 11:00 p.m. Other boats were brought to the scene, including a 41-food Coast Guard boat.
Fast-Spreading Fire
Crews were unable to prevent the spread of the fire from building to building. The three-story, wood-frame, shingle-roofed structures were about 15 to 20 feet apart. Wind (15 to 25 mph with gusts of 35 mph) and radiant heat spread the fire.
By midnight, all ten of the buildings were involved as well as the pro shop at the tennis courts. But firefighters had prevented the fire from spreading to the pool snack bar and tennis shop, the tennis courts, and the adjoining roadway.
On the mainland, on the Southport waterfront, people gathered to watch the fire. It recalled the Timbercreek condo fire in February 1989, which destroyed three buildings on the island.
State forest services were also alerted, in case the fire spread to woodland areas. But the winds persisted from the north and forest fires were not a threat.
Nearing Nothing Was Saved
No injuries were reported among the 21 occupants, who were all renting. The structures were valued at an estimated $5 million, and ranged from seven to ten years in age.
Bald Head Island Fire Chief Greg Turner said that nearly nothing was saved, “Only a few suitcases and some odds and ends.” But he was thankful that the wind was blowing from the northeast and not the southwest, as was usual. Had that happened, the fire would’ve likely spread to the ‘maritime forest.’
The fire started in Apartment 9-A, the second building in the complex that was located off South Bald Head Wynd, when an in-wall heating-cool unit bursts into flames.
The fire was controlled after about three hours, and before it reached neighboring houses, a clubhouse, and the pool-restaurant building.
Firefighters and other responders from the mainland were released about 3:00 a.m.
Aftermath
The fire destroyed all structures at the Swan’s Quarter complex, including some 25 golf carts stored on the ground floor.
On the day of the fire, some 35 guests were visiting the island for a coming wedding, which was scheduled for October 2. Most were attending a pre-wedding party when the fire started. One couple was originally feared missing, but located in Raleigh the following day.
Others, who lived on the mainland, had left the house keys in condo buildings that burned. When they returned to the mainland, they had to break into their own homes, as their keys had melted.
After the fire, Chief Turner lobbied the state building code council to require sprinklers for any structures on the island.
Four months after the fire, the Bald Head Association, which then governed the island, voted to purchase a $300,000 aerial ladder fire truck.
Sources
News & Observer, 10/1/93
News & Observer, 10/2/93
Star News, 9/28/03
State Port Pilot, 10/6/93