BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – Residents across parts of Berkeley County reported hearing and feeling what they described as an explosion late Sunday night, prompting an emergency response and an extensive search by Central Berkeley Fire & EMS, officials said.
According to a statement posted to the department’s Facebook page at 10:51 p.m. on Jan. 4, crews were dispatched shortly after 10 p.m. to the 1600 block of Black Tom Road following reports of an explosion in the area.
Fire and EMS units canvassed Black Tom Road and surrounding neighborhoods in an effort to locate the source of the reported blast. After what the department described as an extensive search, officials said there was no evidence of an explosion.
“The call was ruled unfounded and all units returned to their respective stations,” the department said.
Despite the official finding, numerous residents took to social media to describe what they said was a loud and forceful event felt across a wide area, including Cane Bay and beyond.
“We live back in Pine Hills Cane Bay and it shook our house,” wrote Madison Stiltner.
Another resident, Lori Mackey, questioned the conclusion, saying, “Unfounded? All of Cane Bay shook and it was even heard in Moncks Corner! My daughter thought we’d been attacked!”
Some commenters expressed frustration with the outcome of the investigation, suggesting the experience was too widespread to dismiss.
📣 STAY IN THE LOOP 📣
📰 Sign Up for Berkeley County, SC Newsletter ⬅️
“It’s wild to call it ‘unfounded’ when hundreds of people, if not more, heard and felt the explosion but there is also video evidence of it,” wrote David R. Weiss.
John Allen added, “You can’t say nothing happened when it rocked my whole house. Way to do a poor sweep.”
Assistant Chief Colt Roy of Central Berkeley Fire & EMS acknowledged the widespread reports while maintaining that no physical evidence was found during the search.
“A lot of y’all heard it, but after an extensive search, nothing was found,” Roy said. “Seismic activity, supersonic jets, I can’t say. But there was no evidence of an explosion.”
As of Monday, officials had not identified a confirmed cause for the disturbance.
