Colleton County Fire-Rescue
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I call for assistance from
Why does a fire truck respond first when I call for an ambulance or medical problem?
What is the difference between the volunteer and full-time/career firefighter?
I just moved to the area and would like to become a volunteer firefighter. How do I proceed?
I have an old building on my property; will the Fire Department burn it down for me?
My ambulance bill has an Orangeburg mailing address on it. Why is it mailed to Orangeburg?
Will a Fire-Rescue Ambulance
transport me to a hospital outside of
How do I get a Fire-Rescue Representative to speak to my civic or community group?
I understand
the ISO Classification for
After an emergency,
how can I obtain a fire or medical report?
Simply call “9-1-1” and give your location or address to the call taker. Remain as calm as possible and speak clearly. Be prepared to give as much information as you can about the nature of the emergency. The call taker will ask many questions. While you are speaking with the call taker, a trained dispatcher is sending help from the closest available emergency units. Click here for more information about 911.
The fire engine or volunteer firefighter often arrives ahead of the ambulance. Colleton County Fire-Rescue operates ten Paramedic staffed ambulances. These Medic Units are placed throughout this large county in an effort to reduce the response time to the citizens. Fire-Rescue operates 34 fire stations, also strategically placed throughout the County. All full-time employees are cross-trained as firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT, Advanced or Paramedic) In addition, volunteer firefighters, many of whom are also cross-trained, live in every community, and are alerted by radio when a life-threatening emergency is in their response area. Many times, a fire station is located closer to the medical emergency than one of the ambulances. On a predetermined list of potentially life-threatening medical emergencies, the dispatchers automatically alert the closest fire station to respond. In this way the medically trained firefighters can begin providing care to the sick or injured person prior to the arrival of the ambulance. The primary goal is to begin lifesaving treatment. All Colleton County fire engines carry medical equipment, including oxygen and AEDs.
In some areas of the County, a Paramedic staffs a fire engine. In addition to the firefighting equipment carried on the fire engine, advanced life saving medical equipment and medications are also stored on the fire apparatus. These “Paramedic
Engines” provide lifesaving personnel and equipment quickly in remote areas of the County.
In some cases additional personnel are required to effectively manage the medical emergency. The ambulances are only staffed with two cross-trained personnel. Additional Firefighter-EMTs (Paramedics) fill this important role to assist when extra hands are required to save a life or carefully move a patient.
Fire-Rescue’s ambulances are operated to
provide emergency, life saving personnel and equipment to the scene of a medical
emergency. While the Medic Units have transport capabilities, the agency is not
an ambulance service. With only ten Medic Units in the County,
it is not possible to provide non-emergency transport services. Several private
ambulances companies are located in
There is basically no difference. The volunteer personnel are a very dedicated group of individuals who make some hefty sacrifices to provide emergency services for this community. The volunteer firefighters make up 1/2 of the staff members of Colleton County Fire-Rescue. They attend the same training as career members and respond to emergencies from their homes rather then being assigned to a station for a set period of time. Volunteer firefighters are certified to the same standards as their career counterparts. In high volume areas, one career firefighter is on duty to respond the fire engine to the call. All of the Medic Units (ambulances) are staffed with Firefighter-EMTs (Paramedics) who also respond to emergencies, including fires.
Fire-Rescue is
always looking for volunteers. An application can be found
here or you may contact the administrative offices at (843) 539-1960.The State of
Follow the link http://www.scems.com/edassn/forms/reciprocity.pdf for the official document from our state-regulating agency, S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
For a Burn
Permit, contact the SC Forestry Commission at 1-800-986-3599. The Forestry
Commission regulates out door burning in the unincorporated areas. If you plan
to burn a debris pile or yard debris, contact the Forestry Commission at the
above number. If you plan to burn on sequential days, you will need to call each
day, as conditions change daily. If you live within the municipal limits of
Walterboro or
Unfortunately,
Fire-Rescue is not able to remove fire apparatus from service to fill swimming
pools. There are many reasons, which prevent the use of Fire Apparatus for this
purpose.
Due to lacking of a public water system in most
areas of the County, the only way to transport the water is in tanker
trucks (Tenders). These units weigh in excess of 23 tons, which generally causes
damage to a residential yard and/or driveway.
Due to health reasons, the water in the
Fire-Rescue Water Tankers is not potable (drinkable). Firefighters utilize
several firefighting additives such as light water or foam, which
contaminates the water, making it unsuitable for consumption. This foam also
causes a large froth on the surface of the water, which is undesirable for
most pool owners. The foam cannot be filtered out and increases if the water
is agitated.
The plumbing on most tankers is constructed of
metal pipes. The piping with age tends to rust. This does not affect the
ability to fight fires, but leaves rust and residue in any container, in
this case a swimming pool. Again an undesirable byproduct for pool owners.
Finally, many of the tankers in the Fire-Rescue
have a sealant, coating the interior walls of the water tank. This coating
has several health risks associated with its composition making the water
stored in the tank unsuitable for use in a swimming pool.
I have an old building on my property; will the Fire Department burn it down for me?
How do I
apply for a position with Fire-Rescue?
Full or Part-time
Positions:
Volunteer
Firefighter Positions: Fire-Rescue is always seeking ambitious individuals who wish to serve
their community as volunteer firefighters. Fifty percent of the firefighters in
When I called 9-1-1 and requested an ambulance, the dispatcher asked a lot of questions. Why do they take so much time asking questions?
All 9-1-1 calls are
handled by the Sheriff’s Office Communications Center. Caller takers answer 9-1-1- calls and immediately process the calls to the radio operator for notification
of the closest emergency response unit(s). Generally, a radio operator is
dispatching the ambulance, while the call taker is still gathering important
information from the caller. This information, obtained through questions, aids responding units before they
reach the scene. Additionally, many dispatchers are trained to assist callers
with vital life saving information/instructions and talk them through an emergency until help
arrives.
Does the Fire Department unlock cars?
Will
a Fire-Rescue Ambulance transport me to a hospital outside of
With
the limited number of County operated emergency ambulances, it is not possible
to routinely transport patients outside of
I understand that if I call 9-1-1 for an ambulance, I will be seen faster at the hospital than if I check in at the hospital front door.
Fire-Rescue
ambulances should be used for emergency conditions only. When the ambulances and
the 9-1-1 system are abused by persons who are not experiencing a medical
emergency, then the ambulance and its trained Paramedics are not available
for persons who really need them. All patient transports are communicated to the
hospital staff either by radio or over the telephone. If an emergency condition
does not exist, transport by ambulance may not be provided. In many cases,
patients are transported to the Emergency Department, evaluated by an on-duty
nurse and then directed to the lobby until they can be treated.
How do I get a Fire-Rescue Representative to speak to my civic or community group?
Demonstrations of
Fire-Rescue equipment, displays of equipment or discussions may be arranged by
calling Fire-Rescue Headquarters at (843) 539-1960.
Does Fire-Rescue teach CPR Classes?
Except in special circumstances, Fire-Rescue does not typically teach CPR classes to the public; however, Lowcountry AHEC does provide CPR classes to the public and can be reached at (843) 782-5052
I
understand the ISO Classification for
Colleton
County Fire-Rescue maintains an ISO Class 3 rating. This classification applies
to the Colleton County Fire District and includes areas located within five road
miles of a Colleton County Fire Station. Structures located outside of the
five-mile limit remain a Class ten (10). The District was re-rated by ISO in
July of 2015. The Bennetts Point Community was included in the countywide rating
effective 01-August-2008 due to improvements in fire protection in that
community. The
The
County Fire District includes the Towns of Cottageville, Lodge, Smoaks and
Williams. The municipalities of Walterboro and
The
Class three (3) rating does not apply to the unincorporated areas of
Colleton
Does
In some instances charges do exist for some services. The department may seek reimbursement for certain “covered” incident response costs, up to the policy provision limit. Charges do exist for some Hazardous Material Responses, Medical Responses and/or Transports via an ambulance.
After an emergency, how can I obtain a fire or medical report?
You can obtain a fire report at no charge from our
Administrative Offices located on