Government

Berkeley Co. Council Considers $10 Fire Fee Increase, Approves First Reading

by Nikki Gaskins Campbell
Firefighters enter a burning building as part of training. (FILE)
Firefighters enter a burning building as part of training. (FILE)

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.—On Monday, Berkeley County Council discussed a possible fire fee increase of ten dollars. The current fee rate stands at $70.

County council voted 4-2 to approve the increase. Councilmen Tommy Newell, Jack Schurlknight, Phillip Farley and Dennis Fish said “yes” to the measure while councilmen Josh Whitley and Steve Davis said “no.”

According to C&B Fire Department Battalion Chief Joshua Woodall, call volumes have increased dramatically over the years for the county’s rural fire departments, causing wear and tear on equipment and higher fuel costs.

In 2009, his department received 831 calls. In 2014, Woodall says that number rose to 1,340.

Woodall added that Berkeley County fire departments are also seeing a large decrease in volunteers that actually wanting to become firefighters which has caused C&B to place six paid firefighter on duty Monday through Friday.

According to Pine Ridge firefighters, their department received $462,072.41 from the county in 2014, a decreased of about $18,000 from the previous year.

Along with daily operations and rising fuel costs, equipping firefighters with gear has increased by almost an additional $1,000 and purchasing a fire truck in 2015 can cost close to $500,000, proponents of the increase say.

While council approved the fire fee increase Monday night, this is not the final vote. It must pass a second reading held at a later date.
Nikki Gaskins Campbell
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