GOOSE CREEK, S.C. — The Goose Creek Fire Department is celebrating 45 years of service this month, marking more than four decades of transformation from a small volunteer operation into one of the region’s top-rated emergency response agencies.
To commemorate the milestone, the department launched a social media campaign Feb. 18 that will run through Feb. 25, highlighting key moments in its history and the people who helped shape it.
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“While the technology and the gear have changed, the spirit of devotion has not,” said Fire Chief Michael Nixon. “We are building on the foundation laid by pioneers like Chiefs Trulove, Holland, and Chapman. Our mission remains immutable: to serve this community with excellence and devotion, as if every citizen were family.”
The department’s roots trace back to 1963, when the newly incorporated town of Goose Creek lacked formal fire protection. In response, residents came together to create a volunteer fire squad, refurbishing a donated 1949 Dodge fuel truck by hand and equipping it with a pump. That grassroots effort served the community for nearly two decades.
By 1977, the department’s identity as a close-knit, service-driven organization was already taking shape. Volunteers constructed the original Brandywine Station themselves — a project that city leaders say symbolized a culture of dedication that still defines the department today.
The Goose Creek Fire Department also made history in 1986 through a partnership with Berkeley County, becoming the first fire department in South Carolina to provide fire-based Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance transport — a move that helped redefine emergency medical response across the state.
A major turning point came in 1981, when the department transitioned from a volunteer force to a full-time, professional agency. That shift laid the foundation for decades of growth as Goose Creek rapidly expanded.
Today, the department operates three fully staffed fire stations, with a fourth under construction in the Carnes District to keep pace with development and maintain fast response times.
Its workforce has grown to 70 trained firefighting personnel, supported by paramedic specialists and a modern four-platoon staffing model designed to balance emergency readiness with firefighter wellness.
The department has also significantly improved its fire protection rating, climbing from an ISO Class 5 in 1981 to a Class 2 rating — placing it among the top-performing fire departments nationwide.
For city officials, the anniversary is not just a reflection on the past, but a commitment to the future.
