Rural fire protection in Colleton County began in late 1968 by a small group of men who met the challenge to serve the community. Prior to this year, only the City of Walterboro and the Town of Williams operated fire departments in Colleton County. The municipality of Walterboro discontinued responding to emergencies outside of its municipal limits on October 1, 1966, leaving rural residents without fire protection. Lacking a funding mechanism, the group converted a donated 800-gallon school bus fuel tanker truck into a fire truck and began responding to calls. Incorporated as the Colleton Volunteer Fireman’s Association, the organization developed the groundwork for fire service improvements throughout the rural community. Through the diligent efforts of the men and the women’s auxiliary, multiple fundraisers were conducted. Volunteer firefighter’s pooled their own money to refuel their truck after fire calls and what little equipment they could muster was mostly donated. The organization purchased its first real fire engine in 1969 from the W.S. Darley Company.

The era of the converted school bus tanker thrived through the late 1970s with the donated equipment making its way into several communities. The Colleton Volunteer Fireman’s Association established substations in Jacksonboro, Ruffin, Canadys, Green Pond and Hendersonville . In the meantime, the towns of Edisto Beach, Lodge and Smoaks established fire departments and responded to calls in the surrounding rural communities. 

The Association did not survive the 1980’s as a countywide group. Due to a lack of funding, many stations could not operate or the groups incorporated individually and began operating independently. Several new fire departments developed to cover the areas of Cottageville, Islandton, Jonesville, Maple Cane, Springtown and Neyles in the early 1980’s to early 1990’s. The Colleton Rural Fire Department maintained the incorporation of the Volunteer Fireman’s Association until 1994. The local government did not provide funding for the rural fire departments. Most operated from donations, memberships or fundraisers.

1969 - Jacksonboro Community organizes a Fire Department and becomes District 2.

1971 - Town of Lodge establishes a Fire Department, is designated District 3.

1972 – Ruffin, Canadys, Green Pond Communities, as well as the Town of Smoaks organize fire departments.  They become Districts 4, 5, 6 and 7.

1974 – Hendersonville Community establishes a Fire Department and becomes District 8.

1976 – Town of Edisto Beach establishes a Fire Department (not part of Colleton Volunteer Fireman’s Association)

1977 – Cottageville Community organizes a Fire Department and incorporates separate from the Colleton Volunteer Fireman’s Association. Eventually establishes substations in Round O and the Maple Cane Area. 

1981 - Islandton Fire Department established. Cottageville’s Round O station is closed due to financial problems.

1983 – Maple Cane Fire Department organizes and separates from the Cottageville Fire Department.

1988 – Colleton Rural Fire Department – District 1 achieved ISO Class 7.

1989 – Fee System established.

Under the membership system, only persons who purchased a membership received service from the fire station in their community. Several homes burned due to residents not being a member of their fire department. This created much public outcry. With the local government still not wishing to fund or operate a fire department a new system was put in place to help finance the local fire stations. Voters within the fire response areas had to actually approve of an annual fee being charged on their tax bill. The County Government collected the money from the homeowner and passed it along to the fire department. Several areas approved of the system and many stations were able to have a small, but stable source of income.

Under the fee system, stations in heavier populated areas obviously collected more funds than those in sparsely populated areas. After several years some stations progressed more rapidly than others and were able to upgrade equipment and apparatus. Others were still barely able to make ends meet. Several stations remained on the membership system, due to voters not approving the fee system in their communities. Fire protection varied greatly from community to community and was still non-existent in many areas of Colleton County .

1996 – Commission hires a part-time Fire Chief and Administrative Manager.

As the agency began to grow, the management responsibilities and record keeping increased. The Fire-Rescue Commission hired a part-time Fire Chief and Administrative Clerk to assist with the daily operations. Offices were moved from Emergency Preparedness and placed in two rooms at the Sheriff’s Department. Each individual station continued to handle their own operations, building maintenance and manage their volunteer staff. Stations submitted budgets annually and were required to submit monthly expenditure reports.

The Equipment Committee recommended the purchase of a 3000-gallon capacity tanker truck. Against the recommendations of the County’s consultant, ISO Field Representative and some area Fire Officers, the first 3000-gallon tanker was ordered in 1996. Both the new Engine and Tanker were built on an International Chassis, as the department mapped out the standardization of its new fleet.

2003 – Continued improvements.

The construction of 5 new fire stations was approved by County Council. Six additional full-time firefighters were hired. The Commission replaced the 1957 American LaFrance Ladder Truck with a refurbished 95’ E-One Aerial Platform. A third mechanic was hired and Fire-Rescue began servicing the County’s EMS vehicles. Headquarters was moved into a recently purchased facility on 16 acres at 113 Mable T. Willis Blvd. south of Walterboro. This large facility was shared with the County Public Works Department.

2004 – County-wide ISO evaluation is completed and Fire-Rescue is assigned EMS duties.

The County operated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department was abolished and all functions were assigned to Fire-Rescue. Colleton County completed a countywide ISO evaluation during August with a follow up evaluation in March 2005. Fire-Rescue took over Fire Operations in the Town of Smoaks . All full-time employees were cross-trained in firefighting and emergency medical duties.

After many years of delays, Fire Station # 19 in the Industrial Park (north Walterboro) was completed. Fire Station 24 in the Foxfield Subdivision (east Walterboro), Fire Station # 25 in the White Hall Community and Fire Station # 26 on Mount Carmel Road (west Walterboro) were completed. Station # 1 was relocated to a new facility on Mable T. Willis Blvd (south Walterboro), next to Headquarters. With the assignment of the Emergency Medical duties, the former Station # 1 was renumbered, renovated and operated in downtown Walterboro as Station # 27 and served as an ambulance station.

2005 – Countywide ISO Rating become effective.

The countywide ISO rating was received as Class 4 for all structures located within 5 miles of a county fire station. Colleton County had the distinction as being the largest Class 4 fire department in US. The rating excluded the Bennetts Point Community due to the distances involved in reaching the area. Bennetts Point remained Class 9. Fire-Rescue took over fire operations in the Town of Lodge .

Two additional fire stations were constructed in the Western Cane Branch area and Bonnie Doone areas. Additional full-time staff and an ALS ambulance were added to Fire Station # 6 in Green Pond. The County purchased a second 95’ E-One Aerial Platform to address issues related to Bennetts Point and improve services to the south end of the County. 

2006 – Land acquired for a new station on Bennetts Point Road

After nearly five years of trying to locate property on Bennetts Point Road, Mr. Johnny Miley asked the Donnelley Family (owners of Ashepoo Plantation) to donate two acres of land for the purpose of building a fire station in the remote location. Construction was begun on the station to tie the Bennetts Point Coverage area to the Green Pond coverage area. Fire-Rescue takes over fire operations in the Town of Williams.

 

2007 – More construction.

Fire-Rescue purchases E-ONE Titan III Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Vehicle to serve the growing Lowcountry Regional Airport.  Additionally, two E-ONE Typhoon custom cab 2000 gpm engines were added to the fleet.  Land in the Hickory Hill, Sidneys, and Ions Crossroads areas was purchased with plans to add stations in the near future.  Reporting databases were upgraded, patient care reporting software changes were implemented, and Fire-Rescue began participating in the statewide NEMSIS reporting coordinated by the Duke Endowment.  

Colleton County was unable to establish a lease agreement for the existing Station 11.  Station 11's quarters were moved to a temporary building on Rehoboth Road near Augusta Highway.  Land was acquired to build a new Station 11 on Augusta Higway at Sidneys Road (Gruber's Crossroads).  Station 31 was opened on Lowcountry Highway on Breland Hill.  A new heavy rescue was placed at Station 1 which allowed the movement of the 2001 heavy rescue to Station 18.  This increased the reach of the valuable services provided by these heavy rescues.  In a cooperative agreement with Colleton Medical Center, Colleton County Council approved adding a seventh ALS ambulance which was placed at Station 26.  Six additional personnel were added to staff the unit. This ambulance was designated to begin transporting inter-facility patients from Colleton Medical Center and handle 9-1-1 calls in the northwest areas of the county.