MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Friday, November 18, 2022) – Three fire departments in Berkeley County recently merged to save costs and improve services to citizens. Effective November 1, 2022, the following fire departments consolidated services: Pine Ridge Fire Department in Summerville; Sandridge Volunteer Fire Department in Ridgeville; and Long Ridge Rural Volunteer Fire Department in Moncks Corner.
Each fire district contains paid, part-time firefighters. The departments will be maintaining their station names and numbers, with Pine Ridge Department serving as the parent department and assuming administrative control of all three departments/districts. The departments also formed a unified Board of Directors containing representatives from each fire district.
Each department has volunteered to be part of the merger in order to enhance the emergency response coverage and improve resiliency within the affected portion of the County. Fire officials also saw a way to help save money by eliminating unnecessary administrative and maintenance costs that are duplicated in each district.
“We are excited to be working with the Consolidated Board of Directors and Chiefs of Long Ridge and Sandridge. Together, we have formed a unified plan to improve fire protection throughout these communities by working to update equipment, facilities and staffing. Insurance Services Office (ISO) is also a focus moving forward so that we assure all residents are receiving proper insurance rates based on the services that we can best provide. I am very pleased to have Chief Thompson and Chief Cobin and their staff to join us as we build an improved department to serve these communities.” -Chief Ben Waring, Pine Ridge Fire Department
Original source can be found here.
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