Fire broke out at Elloree Gin Co, located at Orangeburg County, on January 9, 2007 during noon due to high winds. It caused losses worth over $5,00,000.
A tin seed warehouse at the cotton gin was partially blown by winds, following which electrical wires ignited a spark. This spark soon turned into a huge blaze.
A staff member immediately called the fire department. Fire tenders rushed to the spot and prevented burning of cotton and its seeds in all warehouses of Elloree gin.
Inferno was brought under control by the efforts of firefighters. Elloree Fire Department sources informed that flames in the tin warehouse might continue to burn cotton seeds for many days.