Exciting New Program to be Debuted Next Month!

Today, six members of our Charleston Firefighter Support Team traveled to Columbia and joined others from around the State to receive training on becoming instructors for an exciting new Behavioral Health program to be offered to all of our firefighters by the South Carolina State Firefighters Association and the South Carolina Fire Academy.  We are all very excited as this program will be debuted at our Fire-Rescue Conference in Myrtle Beach next month.   It will be the initial component of a multi-faceted effort to bring appropriate behavioral health care and training to our firefighters all over South Carolina.  All of the folks that received the training today will be a part of the initial team to begin delivering this program. 

Thanks to Frank Marker, Robbie Baldwin, Bill Haigler, Gerald Mishoe and Johnny Hackett for their commitment to making this program a reality.  Special thanks to Christopher Wells, our Peer Team clinician, for the development and delivery of today’s program.  Stay tuned for more information as this program continues to unfold.

Iron Warriors to Ride for the Children!

The Iron Warriors Motorcycle Club is sponsoring the First Annual "Christmas in July" Benefit Ride to support the Callen Lacey Center for Children in Moncks Corner. The event will be held on July 28, 2012 with  registration at 9:00 a.m. and kickstands up at 11:00 a.m.  Further information is available by contacting the Iron Warriors at iwmcsovereign@hotmail.com.  

You may also read about the work of the Callen Lacey Center by clicking on the following link:

http://www.cydc.org/our-programs/callen-lacey-center/

Congratulations to Our Graduates!

Well, another year has passed and many of our fire department families are celebrating graduations.  Whether it is a preschooler, elementary, middle, high school, or college, our graduates have worked hard to reach their goals. Congratulations to all of our students and their families as they enjoy their success! 

Bike Rodeo & Safety Fair to Be Held with Firefighter Combat Challenge!

Bring the kids and their bikes for a doubleheader, Saturday, May 19, as the 5th Annual Bike Rodeo & Safety Fair will be held in conjunction with the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge at the North Charleston American LaFrance Fire Museum and Educational Center at the Tanger Outlets. Lots of fun for children and adults alike!

Firefighter Challenge This Weekend!

The Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge is returning to town this Friday and Saturday, May 18 & 19, 2012. Activities will begin on Friday, May 18, from 4 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday, May 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the parking area across from the North Charleston American LaFrance Fire Museum and Educational Center.

Billed as "the toughest two minutes in sports" that challenge, tests, and promotes firefighter fitness. Its five events - the tower climb, hose hoist, forcible entry, hose advance and victim rescue are meant to chronologically simulate an actual rescue situation and illustrate the connection between fitness and performance. 

Visit the website at www.firefightercombatchallenge.com for more information.

North Charleston FD Getting New Rescue!

Our friends of the North Charleston Fire Department will soon place their new Pierce Rescue 207 into service. This is one serious rescue truck. Look for it to be roaming the streets of North Chucktown soon! 

So Much More Than A Fire Truck!

I’m not sure that any of us knew where this “Big John” project would take us when we started but it has quickly become far more than a restoration of an old fire truck.  In addition to being a tribute to Chief John Winn, a good man and a good friend, it has provided us with a place to make new friends, renew old friendships, and develop working relationships and support among many other departments.


The list is growing longer each day with names of those of you who are working hard to bring this project to a completion for its debut in Myrtle Beach.   But even beyond all of that, it has proven to me that if we have faith, we can make things happen.  There have been numerous times during this work that it looked like we had met our match but each time we have overcome those problems and have continued to move forward.  We have a ways to go but we are on schedule to date.


It is now back home at the Old Fort Fire Department Headquarters (my neighbors are happy) where the wrap shop will begin their work tomorrow.  If all goes well this week, we will be reassembling it, lights, sirens, air horns, grab handles and those famous Mack Bulldog emblems by next weekend. Check out the recent photos in our “Beginning of a New Journey” album on our Facebook page and stay tuned for more updates soon!  

Gerald