Fire rips through former Hibben Street church in Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant firefighters are cleaning up a fire in the former a historic church converted to a home in the Old Village.

The house is at the corner of Hibben and Bennett.  Firefighters got the call at 8:20 am according to Mount Pleasant Fire Chief Mark Karst.  It was an automatic alarm triggered by a smoke detector.

The owners Todd Frizzelle and Melissa Clegg are away on vacation and neighbors say no on was staying at the house. Frizzelle and Clegg bought the property from the Seventh Day Adventist Church and renovated the inside but kept the original church exterior and much of the decor.

The Mount Pleasant Fire Department brought 5 trucks and 2 ladder trucks.  There was also firefigthers and trucks on scene from the City of Charleston and North Charleston. 

No firefighters were injurred but at least one had to be treated for heat exhaustion.  A new mobile “rehab” unit was brought in for firefighters to refresh in the air conditioning during the hot and humid weather.  The firefighter treated for heat exhaustion returned to work within hours.

Frizelle and Clegg were notified about their home by neighbors who say they are heartbroken to see the beautiful home destroyed.  No official word if it is a total loss but fire reportedly spread through the entire house.

A church was built on the site in 1830 after a donation by Major James Hibben to the Methodists.  During the Civil War it was used as a hospital.  In November 1899 the current building was built.

Follow this link more history of the building.

Check back frequently for updates.

View Larger Map