POWDERSVILLE - During an interview with the Post on Monday morning, Powdersville Fire Chief J.T. Tingen described the fire department's busy day last week, yawning every now and then during the conversation and readily admitting he was tired from the weekend's activities.

It had been a long day for the volunteers - the fire was under control by 2:38 p.m., but many had to stay until about 7:30 p.m. They then went back to Heritage Trace Apartments a couple of times during the night, just in case a fire had started again.

"Several guys left work, and took time off from work to be there," Tingen said, adding that some had to either cut work hours short or use vacation time to help with the fire. But the work wasn't done when they finished extinguishing the fire.

After 7 p.m. came the part that few people even think about — the cleanup. About 20 of the volunteers from the Powdersville Fire Department returned to the fire station to refurbish equipment and fuel the fire trucks. Many of them brought their family members to help, Tingen said.

"When we get home, we're two-thirds through," Tingen said.

Firefighters replaced hoses, cleaned and refurbished equipment, replaced radio batteries, refueled the fire trucks and washed the trucks.

"We have to get that black gooey stuff off there," Tingen said. "If you don't get it off there immediately, you won't ever get it off."

Tingen said he was grateful that state Rep. Dan Cooper helped secure a grant for a ladder truck a few years ago.

He also expressed thanks to the other fire departments and agencies that responded and helped out - Anderson County Emergency Preparedness, Pelzer Rescue Squad, the Upstate S.C. Chapter of the American Red Cross, and fire departments from Wren, Three and Twenty, West Pelzer and Piercetown.

About 50 volunteer firefighters responded to the fire Friday.