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Berkeley Co. firefighters take part in fire training

by Nikki Gaskins Campbell

Firefighters enter a burning building as part of their training.
Firefighters enter a burning building as part of their training.

On February 22, local firefighters gathered for a day of fire training on Reid Road.

“We had a scenario of a search and rescue of a possible person left inside a burning building on the second floor, and the bottom floor was some search and fire extinguishing,” said David McLane with the Santee Circle Volunteer Fire Department.

For McLane, who has been with the department for nearly twenty years, the training allowed his crew to fine tune their skills and work with neighboring departments.

“We never know when we are going to get called to help the other one,” said McLane. “This way we know how each other works.  Being a volunteer fire department, we may not run as many calls as what paid departments do, so we have to train a little bit harder because we don’t use our skills as often.”

For some of the firefighters, it was their first time entering a burning building.

“A lot of them, they love it.  They get that adrenaline rush.  Others are scared because it’s their first time going into a building that’s got fire in it.  It can be extremely hot,” said McLane.

After the training, the firefighters were treated to some good ‘ol barbeque, cooked by the different departments.  The training event coincided with the first annual Berkeley Co. Emergency Services BBQ cook-off.

The money raised from the event benefited the non-profit organization Berkeley Citizens.

As for which department cooked the best BBQ?  Bragging rights went to Moncks Corner Rural led by Chief Scott Lee.
Nikki Gaskins Campbell
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