By Stefanie Bainum
sbainum@abcnews4.com
JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) -- Flames ripped through the home of Robert Barber on Wednesday. It is the second time his family has been affected by such a tragedy.
Barber lost his family restaurant, the Bowens Island Restaurant, to a fire back in October of 2006.
Neighbor Pat Howard saw the flames and was one of first to arrive at the Barber house.
"It hurts, it hurts inside when you see orange flames jumping through the roof and they break in," Howard said. "The whole thing is traumatic."
Howard said she just can't believe that a fire has once again affected this Lowcountry family.
"I feel for them. It hurts," she said. "They've been through this before with the restaurant, but they came back up. They built from the ashes. They will with the house."
Crews were dispatched at around 11:45 a.m. Just after 1 p.m. firefighters seemed to have the worst under control as flames became less visible.
City of Charleston Fire Department spokesman Mark Ruppel said all of James Island responded to the blaze.
"Due to the heat we had to call on some additional units to relieve our crews," said Chief Chris Seabolt of James Island Fire Department.
Those crews were tested regularly for heat exhaustion and medics were dispatched to check vital signs.
"It's extremely difficult. You've got high temperatures in the upper 90's. Not to mention high humidity levels. Guys can fall out really quick," said Chief Seabolt. "We're wearing 50 pounds of turnout gear to protect us from the heat of the fire. It makes it worse with the heat of the day."
Officials said the home belongs to Robert Barber, a co-owner of Bowens Island Restaurant and a former democratic lieutenant governor candidate.
"It's a shame when I found out it was Mr. Barber's house," said Chief Seabolt.
Fire officials said Wednesday's fire started in the dryer. They say about 30 to 40 percent of the home was destroyed. Barber was out of town at the time and no one was inside of the home.
"I'm glad they weren't here to see it. I really am," Howard said. "They've been through that already. Nobody needs to do that even. Let alone twice."
Fire officials said additional fire hydrants put in place on Bowens Island after the restaurant fire in 2006 helped save a majority of Barber's home on Wednesday.
Authorities say one neighbor was transported to a local hospital to be treated, after attempting to save a dog inside the burning home.
The Bowens Island Restaurant was rebuilt and reopened in January of 2007. It has been a mainstay on Bowens Island since 1946.
Firefighters work to extinguish hot spots in the home on Wednesday afternoon. (Joe/ONeill/WCIV)
