The Boys of Central Station!

As we look at this photograph, we are taken back to the history of Central Station at the corner of Wentworth and Meeting Streets downtown. Many great firefighters have served their community here over the years since this station was built in the late 1800's. The men pictured here continue to carry on the lasting traditions of the CFD.  We are proud to know and to work with them all!  

The CFD Family Continues to Grow!

Amber Claire Fulmer

Ryan Scott Abungan Taylor, Jr.

This month has been especially exciting as we have had two new members of the CFD family come into the world. First on March 14, Amber Claire Fulmer was born to Christy and Thomas Fulmer. Claire weighed in a 7 lbs., 6 ozs. 

Then this week, on March 29, Ryan Scott Abungan Taylor, Jr. was born to Farrah & Ryan Taylor, Sr..  Ryan weighed 7 lbs., 14 ozs.

Congratulations to the new parents as we welcome the little ones into the family. 

Charleston Bed Race Coming Up!

The Women Firefighters of the Lowcountry will be taking part in the Third Annual Charleston Bed Race on April 15th to raise money for Camp Happy Days and "Kids Kicking Cancer" down in Hampton Park. They are currently building a new hot rod that they hope will make a good showing. This is an event solely for the purpose of raising money for Camp Happy Days "Kids Kicking Cancer" program and allows participants to have some old fashioned fun, crashing and banging through one of the most hilarious events ever. We hope all of you will come out to support our lady firefighters as they support this great worthwhile cause. The race is on Sunday, April 15, beginning at 1:00 p.m, on the north side of Hampton Park. They won't be hard to find so come out to cheer them on!

Chief Ricky Waring to be Inducted into Firefighter Hall of Fame!

Mayor Berlin Myers, Chief Waring & Asst. Chief Tom Finucan

This morning, friends and family of Retired Chief Ricky Waring, of the Summerville Fire Department, gathered to congratulate him as he was surprised with the announcement of his induction into the South Carolina Firefighter Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be held at the South Carolina Firefighters' Association Annual Fire Rescue Conference in Myrtle Beach in June.  Congratulations, Chief Waring, for this well-deserved honor! 

Camp Happy Days Looking for Volunteers!

Camp Happy Days is now taking applications for Camp Counselors for their Summer Camp beginning in late June. If you are interested in volunteering for a great cause, follow the link for more information: http://www.camphappydays.com/ 

St. Patrick's Day in Charleston!

Westbrook and Charlie

Chillin' at Waterfront Park with the CCC!

CFD Recruit Dunnigan and his Family

Dolling Up for the Parade!

Laura Kelley of the WFOL

Engine 11 Struttin' her Stuff on King Street!

Restored CFD Engine 10

Big G Dancing an Irish Jig!

The King Street Crowd Enjoying the Parade!

We participated in the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Charleston on Saturday and had a great time. Since it fell on Saturday this year, there were many more people than usual participating in the parade as well as watching.  Engine 11 took up her normal spot with retirees, recruits, CFD family members, CFST Team members, WFOL members, civilians, and even Charlie, the River Dog mascot, along for the ride.  We were excited this year to have Brad Truluck and his family join us in the parade with their restored fire engine, old Charleston Engine 10.. Brad and his family have spent countless hours bringing this truck back to life and we were honored to have them with us. After the parade, we traveled to Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park to participate in the Carolina Children's Charity Music Festival. We enjoyed a beautiful afternoon of sunshine and music to complete the day. Thanks to all who participated with us to make it a successful day!

The Brotherhood at Work, Once Again!

The CFD Brotherhood was at work again today as a large group gathered at Chief John Winn's house to help him "trim" some trees. Chief John continues to battle serious illness and this show of support was to help him out and to let him know how much he is loved and respected. Armed with chainsaws, a tractor, front end loader, and an excavator, they cleared trees, pulled stumps, and left him with a whole bunch of firewood. Chief Robbie O'Donald was there with his grill, feeding everyone as usual as they worked into the afternoon to finish the job. It didn't go unnoticed that just a few months back, Chief Winn led many of the same people there today to provide a clean-up of Capt. Richard Ridge's yard when he and his family were in need. Nice job to all who participated today! 

Big Weekend Coming Up!

Hey Folks, come out and join us for a fun day on Saturday as we take part in the Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Charleston. The parade will start at 10:00 a.m. at Radcliffe and King Streets and proceed down King to Broad so get there early to get a good spot. 

After the parade, we will join the Carolina Children's Charity at Waterfront Park in Mount Pleasant for their 3rd Annual Music Festival. Many locals bands will be there with plenty of vendors and food for all. It's going to be a great weekend! Hope to see you there. 

9/11 Heroes Run Coming to Charleston!

The 9/11 Heroes Run is being hosted by the Travis Manion Foundation, a 501 c (3) non-profit organization, established by the family of Travis Manion, a Marine killed in his scond tour of duty in Iraq in 2007. The Run is a 5K to honor all those lost on 9/11, their families, and all emergency responders that continue to put their lives on the line every day. 

Proceeds from the Charleston Run will benefit several worthy causes; The Travis Manion Foundation and the following local organizations: Gifting Warriors, a local 501 c (3) non-profit organization that assists active duty military and veterans in different ways such as post war training and education so they have the proper tools needed to maintain employment as well as covering some medical needs/equipment that VA benefits don’t cover. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds will also benefit the City of Charleston Fire Department and the Charleston Nine Memorial Fund.

The Director for the Charleston Race is our own Theresa Faircloth, the wife of CFD Firefighter Jesse Faircloth. We are excited to be a supporter of this event. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

"Forever in Our Hearts!"

We rolled out the restored Charleston 9 Camaro today during the Camp Happy Days Car Show in North Charleston. It was damaged last Easter in a crash at the Dorchester Dragway and has required a great deal of time to get it back into shape.  As we approach the fifth anniversary of the loss of the Charleston 9, our new theme "Forever in Our Hearts" will take us into the new year with the commitment to continue to taking care of our firefighters and their families. 

Restored Charleston 9 Tribute Camaro to Debut on Saturday!

It has been almost twelve months since we crashed the Charleston 9 Camaro and it has taken some time and effort to restore it to race and show ready condition.

We are pleased to share with all of you that we will roll it out for the first time since the restoration this coming Saturday, March 10th, in the “Camp Happy Days” Car Show at the Texas Roadhouse in North Charleston.  The theme remains the same but the look is different to reflect our continuing commitment to the memory of our nine heroes who will be “Forever in Our Hearts”.  We have intentionally withheld publishing full photos of it here until after the show on Saturday.  Please come out and join us this weekend as we remember the Charleston 9 in this rolling tribute.  

We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to Chet Couch and his crew at Hipster Race Cars in Summerville for their great work and dedication to this restoration. 

March for Babies Set for April 28th!

The March for Babies, formerly known as WalkAmerica, is the March of Dimes premier fundraising event that benefits all babies, those born healthy as well as those who need help to survive and thrive.  In Charleston, March for Babies will take place on April 28th, at 9:00 am, at Cannon Park (261 Calhoun St). Low Country residents can sign up today to help fund lifesaving research and educational programs aimed at reaching the goal of giving every baby a healthy start.  Funds raised by this March for Babies event support research and grants awarded to programs that improve infant and maternal health in South Carolina.

Walkers and donors can visit marchforbabies.org or call toll-free 1-800-525-9255 to sign up as an individual, start a corporate, family or friends team, or donate to help babies be born healthy.

The Charleston Firefighter Support Team and the Women Firefighters of the Lowcountry will be there to support this great cause!

SDRA Car Show this Saturday!

This Saturday. March 10, is the annual Southern Drag Racing Association's Car Show at the Texas Roadhouse located on Rivers Avenue in North Charleston. All proceeds will go to support 'Camp Happy Days" and cancer research for children. Show starts at 9:00 a.m. and trophies will be awarded after 3:00 p.m. Come out to see some of the finest car and trucks in the Lowcountry. Our Team will be there with both Engines 8 & 11 and "Big Red", our 1962 Ford Fire Chief's car. Hope to see all of you there!

Remembering Our Friends..............

Today, we join our brothers and sisters of the Salisbury, North Carolina Fire Department in remembering their own, Victor Isler and Justin Munroe, who lost their lives in the line of duty on March 7, 2008.