Island fire started at camp site

A Pickens County fire department hauled water and fire suppression equipment by boat yesterday to reach an island fire on Lake Keowee near Mile Creek Park. By a quick boat ride, Chief Phil Black says he and other Vineyard Fire Department personnel were able to hold the damage to a half acre on what is a large island. According to Black, the fire started at a campsite, but the campers were nowhere to be found. Duke Energy, which owns the lake islands, forbids overnight camp fires on the shorelines and says the police have the authority to make arrests.