Fire Safe South Carolina, and its partners, congratulated 207 South Carolina fire departments in April for receiving their 2024 Community Designation.
Camden Fire Department, Lugoff Fire Rescue and Kershaw County Fire Service were all among the designated communities continually work to reduce home fire-related injuries in South Carolina, thereby decreasing the risks for residents and firefighters. They promote consistent fire and life safety messaging and stress the importance of providing data collected in response to fires and other emergency calls for service.
The 207 fire departments receiving the community designation represent a nearly 35 percent increase from the previous year.
“The enthusiasm for obtaining this designation continues to grow,” Community Risk Reduction Chief Josh Fulbright said. “Many departments have received this recognition for the first time, some seek it again with new purpose, and others receiving since the 2017 inception continue to build depth within their organization.”
Departments will be formally recognized during a June 13 award ceremony at the 2025 Fire-Rescue Conference in Myrtle Beach. The ceremony begins at 3:30 p.m.
To earn Community Designation, fire departments complete courses to increase their departments’ Community Risk Reduction efforts, document opportunities for public education, and work with partners to address risks in their community. Camden Fire Department has received the Community Designation every year since its inception.
Last year, because of statewide efforts, 279 community partners were identified (11 percent increase since 2023), nearly 1,284 fire service members were educated on risk reduction-related topics (nearly triple since 2023), and more than 1.1 million citizens (70 percent increase since 2023) were educated on fire and life safety topics.
“As a result of the hard work, commitment, and dedication of these departments and their community partners, more than one million citizens were educated on ways to stay “Fire Safe,” Fulbright said. “Efforts will not stop there. We will continue to work together to educate even more citizens and implement other risk reduction practices proactively to get ahead of calls for service in South Carolina.”
Launched in 2017, partners in Fire Safe SC include the S.C. State Firefighters’ Association, the S.C. State Association of Fire Chiefs, the S.C. Fire Marshal Association, the S.C. Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators and the S.C. Office of State Fire Marshal. Together, they announce the following 207 fire departments have obtained the Fire Safe SC Community Designation.