Fire takes heavy toll at lake home north of Salem

Fire yesterday afternoon devastated a new house near Lake Keowee in one of the more northern areas of Oconee County. Construction had just been completed and, according to Emergency Services, the owners were looking forward to moving in next weekend. The cause of the 510 Keowee Bay Circle fire remained undetermined after fire fighters left the scene after several hours of suppression efforts. Charlie King, Oconee fire chief, says fire fighters from nine departments from Oconee and Pickens counties needed two hours to control the fire. The fire alert was sounded at 2:30 in the afternoon. King says a Salem fire unit, returning from a medical call, was in the area and, within minutes, made it to the scene. However, they faced a house fully engulfed in flames.