Lee fire department seeks volunteers

Randy Burns / The Item Volunteer firefighter Lawrence Isaac and Firefighter Nathaniel Bradley Jr. participate in a rescue training exercise recently at Lynches River training site.

By RANDY BURNS
Item Staff Writer
rburns@theitem.com

BISHOPVILLE - The Lee County Fire Department is in need of a few good men and women.

Lee County Fire Chief Mike Bedenbaugh said he would like to add about 30 people to the county's volunteer staff of some 87-strong.

Six firefighters including Bedenbaugh are paid employees, he said.

Bedenbaugh relies upon Capt. Brandon Holloman to oversee the training of the county's paid and volunteer staff.

"Firefighters spend more time on training than they do fighting fires," Bedenbaugh said. "Training is all important. You've got to make sure firefighters have the skills to not only save the lives of others but we've got to make sure they are safe."

Since Jan. 1, Lee County firefighters have completed almost 3,400 hours of training, Holloman said.

Much of the training acquired by Lee County firefighters can take place locally, he said.

"We have six instructors who are certified by the South Carolina Fire Academy," he said.

Currently, Holloman is teaching a basic 90-hour firefighting course, sponsored by the state fire academy, to 17 volunteers including 10 from Lee County.

Randy Burns / The Item Lee County firefighters participate in training designed to make sure they know how to dispose of hazardous materials.

"Until they complete this training, they are not allowed to conduct interior firefighting," Holloman said.

As volunteers, they still report to fires, but they have to take on a supportive role outside of the primary "attack" scene, he said.

Firefighters also participate in two advanced levels of firefighter training, some of which is provided by the state and some is accomplished locally. Even if it is a state-sponsored training program, most of the training can be completed without leaving town.

"That's an advantage of having so many trained instructors," Holloman said.

Still, he is planning to add to the trained staff as he is working with the state fire academy to offer instructor training.

When the basic firefighting course is completed later this summer, Bedenbaugh will only have a couple of volunteers who will not be allowed inside a "burning house." Still, the need for additional volunteers is real, Holloman said.

"There are certain communities where we don't have enough volunteers," Holloman said. "Places like Ashland, Stokes Bridge and Lynchburg. In Lynchburg, we only have two volunteers. And in most instances, you like to have 10 to 12 people on hand to respond in any single fire."

The need for volunteers is even greater in the summer, Holloman said.

"You need more firefighters when it's hot outside," he said. "Firefighters are going to get tired just because of the heat of a fire. You add the summer heat factor, then you need to have replacements ready."

Anyone interested in serving as a volunteer firefighter should contact Holloman or Bedenbaugh at (803) 484-5274.



Contact Staff Writer Randy Burns at rburns@theitem.com or (803) 491-4533.