During the most recent Newberry County Council meeting, Tommy Long, Newberry County Emergency Services director, and Brandon Wicker, Emergency Services coordinator, recognized the Fairview Fire Department and Lake Murray Rescue Squad as part of a new tradition Newberry County Council has initiated to recognize the volunteer departments!
Fairview Fire Department and Lake Murray Rescue Squad are each located in the Lake Murray Public Safety Complex, located at the northwest intersection of Macedonia Church Road and Seibert Road servicing the southern portion of Newberry County.
During their presentation, Mr. Long stated the Lake Murray Rescue Squad has an active membership consisting of 16 volunteer members with over 176 years of service, with the longest-serving member being active since 1993. Exceptional medical care is their primary focus, and they continually look for ways to improve service to the district.
Mr. Wicker recognized the Fairview Fire Department and stated that in addition to the main station on Seibert Road, there is also a substation on Ira Kinard Road. They currently have 26 members and responded to 149 calls in 2024. One of the members saved a citizen’s life in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene when a tree fell on their house.
Newberry County Council thanked the volunteers for their service, noting that they are the backbone of Newberry County.
During the most recent Newberry County Council meeting, Tommy Long, Newberry County Emergency Services director, recognized the Bush River Fire-Rescue Department, as part of a new tradition Newberry County Council has initiated to recognize the volunteer departments!
Bush River Fire Rescue has three stations in the upper portion of Newberry County. The main station is the Bush River station. The two substations are Belfast Station and Counts Station.
During his presentation, Mr. Long recognized the department for the great job they do. He noted the department responded to 182 calls in 2024 and has responded to 120 calls so far this year. Several of those calls have been to incidents on I-26. He noted that department members hold a variety of certifications, with years of service ranging from less than one year to 40 years.
Newberry County Council thanked the volunteers for their dedication, noting that they are the backbone of Newberry County.
Pictured are a few of the volunteers with Bush River Fire-Rescue Department, they are also standing with Chairman Robert Shealy, Emergency Services Director Tommy Long, Emergency Services Coordinator Brandon Wicker, and County Administrator Jeff Shacker.