Help with fire, smoke, water and storm damage in Camden

Camden is the county seat and largest city in Kershaw County, and the oldest inland city in South Carolina. It was laid out in 1732 as Fredericksburg, served as the main British supply post in the Southern campaign of the Revolution, and lost a full block of downtown buildings when Sherman's army burned property in 1865. The city sits about 203 feet above sea level on the northeast side of the Wateree River, roughly 32 miles northeast of Columbia.

Fire & Water Energy refers callers to independent restoration contractors and does no restoration work itself. Call (866) 937-3230 and we will try to find a provider serving Camden and nearby Kershaw County, as availability allows. Anyone curious about the fine print for a Wateree-side property can read how it works and the referral disclosure.

Living beside the Wateree: storms, floods and ice

The Wateree begins where the Catawba River enters Lake Wateree, a reservoir held back by Duke Energy's Wateree Hydro Station Dam, then flows south past Camden toward its junction with the Congaree. A long river corridor like this gathers runoff from a broad area when tropical rain lingers.

FEMA has included Kershaw County in eight major disaster declarations since 2000: Severe Winter Storm (2000), Tropical Storm Frances and a Severe Ice Storm (both 2004), Severe Storms and Flooding (2015, DR-4241), Hurricane Matthew (2016, DR-4286), Hurricane Irma (2017), Hurricane Ian (2022) and Hurricane Helene (2024).

Water damage repair in an old Midlands city

Camden's age shows in its housing. Older houses in a city this old may have aging supply lines, cast-iron drains and roofs that have been patched many times. Newer subdivisions face different issues: failed washing machine hoses, water heaters and HVAC condensate overflows during humid summers. Freezes during ice storms can split pipes in any of them.

For water damage restoration in Camden, a reputable contractor will usually shut off the source, remove standing water, use moisture meters to trace how far it spread, and run drying equipment until readings are normal. Water damage repair then restores drywall, floors and trim.

Federal disaster declarations that included Kershaw County

FEMA records show Kershaw County was included in 8 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (5 hurricane, 1 flood, 1 severe ice storm, 1 severe storm, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in Camden was affected. The most recent:

• 2024 – Hurricane Helene (DR-4829)
• 2022 – Hurricane Ian (DR-4677)
• 2017 – Hurricane Irma (DR-4346)
• 2016 – Hurricane Matthew (DR-4286)
• 2015 – Severe Storms and Flooding (DR-4241)
• 2004 – Tropical Storm Frances (DR-1566)

Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved 2026-10-10. Counts include major disaster (DR) declarations with hurricane, flood, severe storm, tropical storm, fire, tornado, coastal storm, winter or ice storm, mudslide and dam/levee incident types.

Fire and smoke: a city that knows both

The 1865 burning is part of Camden's story, but modern house fires are usually smaller and start with cooking, heating equipment, electrical faults or dryer lint. Even a contained fire can coat a house with soot and leave an odor that clings to wood, plaster and fabric, and older homes with open wall cavities let smoke travel farther.

Fire damage restoration commonly includes securing the building, debris removal, soot removal, odor treatment, drying firefighting water and rebuilding. For historic properties, ask contractors about their approach to original materials.

When storms bring trees down or water in

Ice storms and tropical remnants are both capable of putting large trees on roofs. Once the roof is open, rain moves through the attic and into ceilings quickly. Storm damage cleanup often begins with tree removal, tarping and boarding.

Heavy rain can also overwhelm yard drainage and creeks feeding the Wateree. Water entering from outside is contaminated, so flood damage restoration typically involves stripping wet porous materials, disinfecting and drying before reconstruction.

Mold risk in humid Kershaw County

Midlands humidity gives mold a quick start on damp drywall, insulation and wood, often within 24 to 48 hours. Crawl spaces under older homes deserve a look after any leak.

The EPA says patches under about 10 square feet can usually be cleaned by homeowners with proper precautions. For larger growth or mold following floodwater, consider mold remediation using containment and air filtration.

First moves for Camden homeowners

• Call 911 for fire, injury, gas smells or downed lines.
• Keep family members clear of any bowed ceiling drywall and any puddle that reaches a cord, outlet or appliance.
• In pre-1980 homes, avoid disturbing old paint, plaster or flooring until it has been checked for lead or asbestos.
• Photograph damage and save receipts for any emergency work.
• Call your insurer or agent early; coverage depends on your policy, and rising water typically requires a flood policy.

Browse nearby communities on our South Carolina service areas page.

Neighborhoods and nearby communities

Areas in and around Camden that callers often mention include:

• Knights Hill
• Dusty Bend
• Windsor Heights
• White Gardens
• Arrowwood
• The RaceTracks
• Sunnyhill
• East Camden

Nearby communities with their own pages (straight-line distance from Camden):

• Lugoff · 5 mi
• Woodfield · 23 mi
• Dentsville · 24 mi
• Forest Acres · 27 mi
• Sumter · 27 mi
• Columbia · 30 mi

Restoration guides

• Fire Damage Restoration
• Soot Removal
• Water Damage Restoration
• Storm Damage Cleanup
• Flood Damage Restoration
• Mold Remediation

Sources

• Wikipedia: Camden, South Carolina
• Wikipedia: Wateree River

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