Hemingway man accused of using ‘incendiary device’ to set 3 Georgetown County fires

GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Officers with the South Carolina Forestry Commission arrested a 63-year-old Hemingway man in connection with three Georgetown County fires.

Windell McDaniel faces three counts of arson after being accused of “deliberately setting three fires with an improvised incendiary device” along Deep Creek Drive, officials announced Monday morning.

A fire management officer arrived at a woods fire call on March 1 and found three fires along the road, which connects Highway 261 and Barnhill Road.

“Adjacent to one of the fires, the responding officer found a soft drink bottle containing what was believed to be kerosene along with a rag that also smelled of kerosene,” said SCFC officials. “The subsequent investigation revealed camera footage showing a truck registered to the suspect in the area around the time of the fires’ ignitions.”

Investigators interviewed McDaniel on March 3. He was then placed under arrest and booked into the Georgetown County Detention Center where he awaits trial for the arson charges.

“If convicted of the arson charges, he faces a fine of not more than $5,000 or a prison sentence of not more than five years on each count,” said SCFC officials.

Officials added that none of the fires McDaniel allegedly ignited were related to other Georgetown County fires that weekend, one of which grew to 130 acres and threatened homes on Arcadia Plantation Drive.