City of Charleston Fire Department

Charleston Fire Department

Operational area
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
City	Charleston
Agency overview[1][2]
Annual calls	19,030 (2014)
Employees	345 (2015)
Annual budget	$27,597,931 (2015)
Staffing	Career
Fire chief	Karen Brack
IAFF	61
Facilities and equipment[3]
Battalions	4
Stations	16
Engines	16
Trucks	1
Tillers	1
Platforms	2
HAZMAT	2
Light and air	1
Website
Official website
IAFF website

The City of Charleston Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Charleston, South Carolina. In all the department is responsible for an area of 109 square miles (280 km²) with over 120,000 residents.^[1]

History

Of the three fire stations built in 1887 after the Great earthquake, only this one at 116 Meeting St. is no longer in use; it has been converted into offices.

The first fire department in Charleston was a private insurance company which responded to fires of its members only; insured houses were marked by a metal plate on the front of the house. The first fire insurance company in America, the Friendly Society, began in Charleston on February 3, 1736.^[4] The earliest records of a volunteer fire department in Charleston appear in the minutes of the Board of Firemasters dated October 18, 1819. References to a Board of Firemasters date back to at least 1792.^[5] Until January 1, 1882, the fire department was a voluntary effort; after that date, the city fire department was a paid, professional department of the city. The newly formed fire department of 1882 had 103 firemen. Its first fire pumper was bought in 1910.^[6]

Following the 1886 Charleston earthquake that devastated Charleston, the board of the Firemasters suggested selling off some stations, buying new locations, and building stations in a more strategic layout.^[7] The result was a series of three firehouses. Each one was designed by Daniel G. Wayne and cost about $28,000. The firehouse at the northeast corner of Wentworth and Meeting Streets became the most prominent and was, until 2013, the central fire house and office for the Chief of the fire department.^[8] The other two stations, built in 1887 are at 5 Cannon St. and 116 Meeting St. A new Headquarters opened on Heriot St. in November 2013, and the department has a total of 15 stations. The new Headquarters, Station 9, was designed by Rosenblum Coe Architects is the largest fire station in Charleston and built to withstand severe storms and seismic activity.^[9]

Stations and apparatus

The quarters of Engine 102, Engine 103, and Car 2 were built in 1887 at the northeast corner of Wentworth and Meeting Streets.

Engine 106 is located at 5 Cannon Street.

	Address	Engine	Truck	Special	Chief	Battalion
2/3	262/264 Meeting Street	Engine 102 Engine 103				3	[10]
6	5 Cannon Street	Engine 106			Battalion 103	3	[11]
7	1173 Fort Johnson Road	Engine 107				5	[12]
8	370 Huger Street	Engine 108				3	[13]
9	1451 King Street	Engine 109		HazMat 101, HazMat 102		9	[14]
10	1 Nicholson Drive	Engine 110	Tower 105			5	[15]
11	1517 Savannah Hwy	Engine 111			Battalion 104	4	[16]
12	1352 Old Towne Road	Engine 112		Air 101		4	[17]
13	358 Folly Road	Engine 113			Battalion 105	5	[18]
15	162 Coming Street	Engine 115	Ladder 104 (Tiller)			3	[19]
16	81 Ashley Hall Plantation Road	Engine 116				4	[20]
17	1830 Bohicket Road	Engine 117				5	[21]
18	235 Seven Farms Drive	Engine 118	Ladder 101		Battalion 106	6	[22]
19	1985 Bees Ferry Road	Engine 119	Tower 102			4	[23]
20	1006 Pinefield Road	Engine 120				6	[24]

Emergency Medical Services

Emergency medical services for the City of Charleston is provided by Charleston County Emergency Medical Services (CCEMS) & Berkeley County Emergency Medical Services (BCEMS). The city is served by both Charleston & Berkeley counties EMS and 911 services since the city is part of both counties. The Charleston Fire Department provides basic life support services and assist the County ambulatory services.

Fire Marshal Division

The CFD Fire Marshal Division (FMD) consists of a Chief Fire Marshal, three deputy fire marshals, and several assistant fire marshals and fire inspectors. The FMD oversees inspections, plan review, fire investigations, and community education and risk reduction.^[25]

References

1. "About Us". Charleston Fire Department. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
2. "2015 Budget". City of Charleston South Carolina. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
3. "Stations". Charleston Fire Department. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
4. "'Fire Marks' Are Now Decorations". The Charleston News & Courier. July 29, 1968. pp. B1. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
5. "The Firemen of Charleston". The Charleston News & Courier. January 1, 1882. p. 1. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
6. "City Force Keeps Pace With Newest Trends". Charleston News & Courier. April 11, 1949. p. 12. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
7. "Central Fire Station Strategically Located". Charleston News & Courier. February 22, 1965. pp. B1. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
8. "Central Station". City of Charleston, South Carolina. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
9. Behre, Robert (May 3, 2012). "Work to start soon on Charleston's largest fire station". Charleston Post & Courier. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
10. "Engine 102 - Engine 103". Charleston Fire Department. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
11. "Engine 106 - Battalion Chief 103". Charleston Fire Department. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
12. "Engine 107". Charleston Fire Department. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
13. "Engine 108". Charleston Fire Department. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
14. "Engine 109 - Headquarters". Charleston Fire Department. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
15. "Engine 110 - Tower 105". Charleston Fire Department. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
16. "Engine 111 - Battalion 104". Charleston Fire Department. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
17. "Engine 112". Charleston Fire Department. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
18. "Engine 113". Charleston Fire Department. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
19. "Engine 115 - Ladder 104". Charleston Fire Department. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
20. "Engine 116". Charleston Fire Department. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
21. "Engine 117". Charleston Fire Department. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
22. "Engine 118 - Ladder 101 - Battalion 106". Charleston Fire Department. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
23. "Engine 119 - Tower 102". Charleston Fire Department. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
24. "Engine 120". Charleston Fire Department. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
25. "Fire Marshal Div". Charleston Fire Department. Retrieved 10 July 2015.