Fire News South Carolina 2-2025 by Fire News

In this issue...

Beaufort/Port Royal FD Stops House Fire

Port Royal FD was dispatched to a residential structure fire at a single-story residence.

See story on page 4

Well Involved on Arrival

Units from Wellford and Duncan, along with automatic aid units, were dispatched to an outside structure fire off Fort Prince Boulevard.

See story on page 6

Welding Spark Starts

Deep-Seated

Fire in Burton

Firefighters responded to smoke coming from an outdoor sawdust collector in Beaufort County.

See story on page 9

7 Displaced by Bedroom Blaze

Colleton County Fire Rescue Engine 6 responded to a home well involved with the fire already in the attic.

See story on page 10

Water Always Runs Down Hill

Firefighter-Paramedics used a high-water vehicle to rescue residents and several canines.

See story on page 21

2025 Women’s Weekend at the NFA

2025 Women’s Weekend at the National Fire Academy May 17 to 18, 2025.

See story on page 23

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of the Month

Cover Story

- Courtesy of Colleton County FR

- Courtesy of Duncan FD; photos submitted by Captain Josh Hannigan

- Courtesy of Horry County Fire Rescue

- Submitted by Burton FD - Submitted by Burton FD

- Courtesy of Colleton County FR

- Courtesy of North Myrtle Beach FR

- Courtesy of Columbia-Richland FD

- Submitted by Burton FD

- Courtesy of Colleton County FR

- Courtesy of Myrtle Beach FD

- Courtesy of Columbia-Richland FD

- Courtesy of Horry County FR

- Submitted by Lieutenant Patrikis

- Courtesy of Horry County FR - Submitted by Burton FD

- Courtesy of Duncan Fire Department

- Submitted by Brook Dennis, SCSFA

Fire Service Improvement Conference

High Speed MVAin

Colleton County

Rookie Firefighters Makes First Rescue

Three people were injured and one was trapped in a high-speed single vehicle MVAon Azalea Patch Road nearSniders Highway on November13, 2024, at 1829. The small passengercarleft the roadway and entered a waterfilled ditch. The adult male driver received non-life-threatening injuries, but had multiple complaints and could not exit the vehicle. An adult female and a small child also received non-life-threatening injuries. Firefighter-Paramedics treated all three patients at the scene. The motherand four-month old were transported to Colleton Medical Centerforfurtherevaluation. Firefighter-Paramedics used Holmatro Rescue Tools to extricate the driver. The roof was removed and the patient was extricated with spinal precautions. He was transported to Colleton Medical Center. The Sheriff’s Office and SCHPare investigating the MVA.

- Courtesy of Colleton County FR

Just past 0930 on January 17, 2025, Burton firefighters were summoned to a residence on Hampton Drive in Grays Hill fora report of a kitten stuck in a tree. The Burton fire crew located the female kitten, named Zara, who had been out all night, and was now approximately 25-feet up the tree and refusing to come down. Burton Fire District probationary firefighter Marek Malinowski grabbed a 35-foot ladderand made the climb, reaching Zara and safely returning herto the ground and to heranxious, but grateful, human. To keep his probationary firefighter’s ego in check, Burton Fire District Engineer/EMTMichael Simmons was quick to remind Firefighter Malinowski that Zara still had eight lives left, “But I guess we’ll let you have a moment.”

- Submitted by Burton FD

WaterAlways Runs Down Hill

On November6 and 7, 2024, Orangeburg and Calhoun counties, north of Colleton, were inundated with heavy rains, receiving 1214 inches overa few hours. Colleton County began preparing for expected flooding as flood waters began moving south. On November10, the 911 centerreceived a request from a flooded residence on Biscayne Court nearthe Springtown Community. Firefighter-Paramedics used a high-watervehicle to reach the flooded home and rescued the residents as well as several canines. Some additional people were rescued as crews left the first incident. All those rescued and the animals were brought to safety on higherground at Augusta Highway. Asecond waterrescue was preformed laterin the evening off of Cannon Road. High swift waters had driven a family with several dogs from theirhome. Firefighter-Paramedics were able to reach the stranded people using a boat. The people, dogs, and six puppies were safely brought to higherground on Cannon Road.

- Courtesy of Colleton County Fire Rescue

Burton Fire District Promotes New Lieutenant

The Burton Fire District promoted Engineer/EMTJosh Fridley to the rank of Lieutenant. Lieutenant Fridley's family was present and his son and daughter pinned on his new rank.

Lieutenant Fridley was recently selected as the Burton Fire District's 2024 Firefighter of the Year. Lt. Fridley was selected for this award by his peers who noted his continuous positive attitude, initiative in taking on new projects and training other firefighters, and his volunteer participation in several fire district committees and uniform improvements. In addition, the district's maintenance staff also noted his detailed vehicle inspections and constant preventive maintenance on the district's emergency apparatus to ensure they are prepared to safely and efficiently respond to emergencies.

In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations of the fire station to which he is assigned, and the supervision of the other firefighters assigned to that station, Lt. Fridley will also be in command of emergency scenes and responsible for the safety of the community and his firefighters. - Submitted by the Burton Fire District

Congratulations to our very own Deputy Chiefs Bob Mixter and James Kemple for completing the Fire Officer IVprogram.

This nine-day, 72hour chief officer class is designed to take the student to NFPA1021 Fire Officer IVlevel.

Students are heavily involved in group projects including appraisal of workforce demographics and member-assistance programs, evaluation of member incentive programs and education and training programs, forecasting training requirements and facility needs, and learning to provide leadership in community functions. Students also develop member/management programs, comprehensive long-range plans, capital improvement projects, succession plans, disaster plans, interagency plans for operations at hostile events, and media relations programs. Students must present all materials to a mock council in order to successfully complete Fire Officer IV.

- Courtesy of Central Berkeley Fire & EMS

Burton Firefighters Honored

The Burton Fire District honored its top firefighters for 2024 at a district banquet.

Captain/EMTEthan Webb was selected as the Burton Fire District's 2024 Officer of the Year. Ethan was hired by the fire district in 2011 and was chosen by his fire academy classmates for the Order of the Maltese Cross award which is awarded to the candidate who best displays the ethos of the fire service. In 2016, Ethan was selected as the Burton Fire District Firefighter of the Year, and the Exchange Club Firefighter of the Year for saving the life of a woman off duty by performing CPR. In 2018, Ethan was awarded the South Carolina Firefighters’Association Meritorious Action award for his efforts to save a man trapped under a mobile home. In 2022, then Lieutenant Webb, was also selected as the 2022 Officer of the Year.

Engineer/EMTJosh Fridley was selected as Burton Fire District’s Firefighter of the Year. Josh was hired by the district in 2022 and promoted to Engineer just a year later. Josh's peers noted his continuous positive attitude, initiative in taking on new projects and training other firefighters, and his volunteer participation in several fire district committees on station and uniform improvements as reasons for nominating him for this award. In addition, the district's maintenance staff also noted his detailed vehicle inspections and constant preventive maintenance on the district's emergency apparatus to ensure they are prepared to safely and efficiently respond to emergencies.

Engineer Guido Portela was selected as Burton Fire District Shift I Firefighter of the Year, and Engineer/Paramedic Morgan Clifton was selected as Burton Fire District Shift II Firefighter of the Year.

- Submitted by Burton FD

2025 Women’s Weekend at the NFA

The United States Fire Administration’s (USFA) National Fire Academy (NFA), in partnership with Women in Fire, is pleased to announce the 2025 Women’s Weekend at the NFA!

Women’s Weekend (May 17 to 18, 2025) at the NFAis not limited to women, all are welcomed to attend. You will see the 2025 schedule has more two-day classes than ever and several new offerings from the NFA, U.S. Forest Service, First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE), and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF).

What: Women’s Weekend at the NFA

When: May 17-18, 2025

Where: National Fire Academy / Emmitsburg, Maryland Cost: Free of chargeattendees must purchase a meal card on campus Lodging: Free of charge provided on campus Other: Charter bus transportation to/from NFA from Thurgood Marshall Baltimore International Airport (BWI) free of charge

Register: National Fire Academy National Training Weekend Program (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/about/usfa-events/2024-06-15womens-weekend/)

Classes being offered:

• Building Resilience in Leadership: Strategies for Growth and Confidence (W0952)

• Command and Control for Company-Level Operations (W0296)

• Decision-Making for Initial Company Operations (W0457)

• EMS Functions in ICS (W0166)

• Executive Skills Series: Exercising Leadership Through Difficult Conversations (W0522)

• Followership to Leadership (W0905)

• Fostering Belonging in the Fire and Emergency Services (W0851)

• Incident Safety Officer (W0729)

• Leadership in Supervision: Creating Environments for Professional Growth (W0646)

• Optimizing Performance in Female Fire Fighters (W0955)

• Safety for Hazardous Materials Incidents (W0256)

• Shaping the Future (W0602)

• Strategy and Tactics for Initial Company Operations (W0455)

• Supervising Emergency Medical Services (SEMS) (W0146)

Sleigh UnderRepair? No Problem, Santa

When the sleigh is down forrepairs, Central Berkeley firefighters make sure Santa still arrives in style. We had a blast giving the big guy a ride to the tree lighting at the Cane Bay YMCA!

- Courtesy of Central Berkeley Fire & EMS

FAMAand FEMSAAre Deeply Saddened to Report the Passing of William (Bill) Foster

Bill Foster (previously of Spartan Emergency Response) passed away on January 1, 2025, at the age of 83, after a long-fought battle with cancer. Known and loved by many, Bill was considered a mainstay in the fire industry. His passion for firetrucks and commitment to training firefighters and mechanics remains evident today.

In roughly 1976, Bill and three others started Spartan Motors in Charlotte, MI. For more than 30 years, Bill worked to build Spartan to the successful business it is today. Bill served as VPand on the Board of Directors. After 27 years, Bill retired from active service on the Delta Township Fire Department holding many ranks including Assistant Chief. Bill was also dedicated to his family. He and his wife of 57 years, Joan, had two sons, James and Philip. Over the years, Bill and Joan’s family has grown to include seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Memorial contributions may be made to Emanuel Lutheran Church Restoration Fund. 917 West Jefferson Boulevard, Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Allendale County EMS Gets New Ambulance

This 2025 Ford E350 Wheeled Coach CitiMedic was built forAllendale County EMS. This unit boasts multiple comfort features to maximize crew comfort such as eight-inch cab extension for more seat travel, safety features such as relocated switch panel to the curbside wall allowing crew to be seat belted while still having control overall ambulance electronics and easy access to theirpatient.

This ambulance boasts the Wheeled Coach patented CoolBarwith full Whelen LED Emergency and Scene lighting, an all-aluminum front console and patient compartment, and a Norcold Refrigeratorin the right front stack to hold various medications and blood products in the future. This unit has custom 3M reflective graphics with a partial redesign boasting a slightly updated graphics package fortheirnew ambulance.

- Submitted by Corey Outen

SuperVac Founder Erv WeinmeisterPasses

Super Vacuum Manufacturing Founder Erv Weinmeister passed away in the early morning hours on December 27, 2024, at UC Health Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, Colorado.

Erv Weinmeister was an inventor and wellloved entrepreneur, who devoted 24 years as a firefighter and seven decades to fire equipment manufacturing. Many in the industry called him “a visionary who pushed the fire industry forward.”

Weinmeister dedicated 24 years to the Loveland Volunteer Fire Department. He served as Chief od the Loveland VFC during the Big Thompson Flood of 1976, leading the recovery effort. In 1971, the company built its firstever fire truck. Today, Super Vac’s fire truck division is now known as SVI Trucks.

In the end, Weinmeister never stopped working. He drove to work, walked the floors, put in his office time, then made the lunch hour bell before leaving for the day to start it all over again - up until the very end. “That’s what he instilled in all of us,” his family said. “To work hard for something good. That’s the legacy Erv left us.” The Weinmeister family asks that donations be made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities at rmhc.org/donate at rmhc.org/donate.

Myrtle Beach Shop-witha-Hero

Alongside Myrtle Beach Police Department (MBPD) and Fire Department (MBFD) had the joy of taking part in the annual Shop-witha-Hero event, which allowed members to spend the day with 40 awesome children from the community, creating some big holiday cheer together. As you can see, plenty of fun was had by all, enjoying fun activities and holiday shopping. And of course, the day couldn’t have been complete without a visit from Santa! Fundraising forShop-with-a-Hero takes place throughout the year, and we truly look forward to this special day all yearlong.

- Courtesy of Myrtle Beach FD

Simpsonville Fire Department at the Christmas Parade

Colleton Co. at Walterboro Christmas Parade

Fire-Rescue participated in the Walterboro Christmas Parade on December8, 2024. Multiple units lined up on Hampton Street to join the many participants. The event was well attended by the public and many positive comments were received about the decorated apparatus. The community helped bring in the joyous time of yearas we celebrated the birth of Christ. - Courtesy of Colleton County FR

- Photos submitted by Lieutenant Patrikis