Tomorrow, September 11, 2011 the Boiling Springs Fire District (Greenville County, SC) will hold a brief 9/11 remembrance ceremony at its headquarters located at 5020 Pelham Road in Greenville to observe the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the United States.
The ceremony will begin at 8:00 a.m. and is expected to last approximately 20 minutes and will include participation by the BSFD Honor Guard and remarks from Chaplain Gary Rogers.
Members of neighboring fire departments are expected to attend, and the public is invited.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, two Boiling Springs Honor Guard detachments will leave the district’s headquarters to participate in other area observance ceremonies.
Officials from Boiling Springs Fire District say that they plan to hold a larger scale ceremony when construction is completed on the district’s privately-funded 9/11 memorial that features a steel beam from the World Trade Center as a centerpiece.
For planning purposes, directions to Boiling Springs’ headquarters are below.
From Greenville
Take I-85 North to Pelham Road
Bear right at the top of the exit ramp on to Pelham Road.
BSFD Headquarters is located on the right on the corner at the first traffic signal.
From Spartanburg
Take I-85 South to Pelham Road
Turn left at the top of the exit ramp on to Pelham Road.
After crossing back over I-85, BSFD Headquarters is located on the right on the corner at the intersection of Pelham and Garlington Roads.
About the Boiling Springs Fire District
Established in 1968 and located on Greenville County's Eastside, the Boiling Springs Fire District covers 15 square miles and serves over 26,000 residents. Governed by five commissioners recommended by county council and appointed by the governor, the Boiling Springs Fire District is a special purpose district responsible for addressing specific concerns and local issues among commercial and residential interests through 40 paid personnel and 20 volunteers operating out of 3 fire stations. The Boiling Springs Fire District is South Carolina's only ISO Class 1 fire department with a combination of paid and volunteer fire fighters.
For media inquiries, please contact Taft Matney by e-mail at taft@taftmatney.com or by phone at 864/505-8866.
By Butch Kirven Published Sunday, September 4, 2011 The Greenville News Section 9A -- http://bit.ly/qDmZ98
Greenville County is notoriously tightfisted with tax dollars. The last time County Council raised tax millage for the county’s general fund operations was 1993.
Since then County Council has consistently decreased tax millage.
Aside from its own business, County Council is the approving fiscal authority for many, but not all, separate Special Purpose Tax Districts, a task complicated because the Council does not have operational control of these fire districts, relying instead on the commissioners of each one.
Fire protection is not optional. Lives and property depend on the level of protection provided. Fire protection services are paid for directly by property taxes collected from the citizens who are the beneficiaries of the services. Needs for fire protection services and the capabilities to provide them vary greatly throughout Greenville County.
That means funding levels for each fire district must be judged on the merits of each case, and not on a “no-tax increase” dogma that does not account for the actual situation in each fire district. Some increases may be justified, some may not, but each should be evaluated carefully and business-like decisions made for each one.
There are some 30 separate Fire Districts, Special Purpose Fire Districts and Fire Service Areas in Greenville County. Thirteen were created by County Council, and 17 were created by the state Legislature, eight with statutory budget limits, and nine with full autonomy and unlimited taxing authority. Only the first group and those with limited autonomy require County Council’s approval for millage adjustments.
Each Fire District contains a specific array of demographic and economic characteristics determining how fire protection is provided and funded. Consider both ends of the spectrum: Boiling Springs Fire Department serves a densely populated 15-square mile area with a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial properties.
Dunklin Fire Department serves a 28-square mile largely rural-residential area, including large amounts of agricultural or undeveloped land that produces little tax revenue. It is obvious that these differences determine how each department is manned, equipped, trained and how much it all costs. Comparing them would be like comparing apples to oranges.
In the case of Boiling Springs Fire Department, the facts and circumstances support their request for County Council’s approval for a bond to pay for a strategically located new station to serve their densely populated area and diverse mix of property types. In the case of Dunklin Fire Department, the circumstances and facts support their request for a very modest increase in revenue just to maintain the basic capabilities which the citizens currently rely on.
Despite the archaic arrangement of so many fire and other special purpose tax districts, no local service does more to protect life and property than the fire departments. They do much more than put out fires. Firefighters are usually first to arrive when anyone has a stroke or a heart attack. When a traffic accident occurs, the rescue vehicle from the local fire station is usually the first to arrive on the scene. When corporations and industries look for places to locate, a top priority is the quality of fire protection and ISO ratings.
Fire departments and firefighters are essential; they save lives, support economic development, give us peace of mind, and are taken for granted.
Changes in state law a few years ago limited tax millage increases to a combination of population increase plus a cost-ofliving index. That led local government entities to review their budgets every year and to ask for the allowed small millage increase maintain services.
However, the new state tax law also created a problem by having so many subdivisions of local government asking for the allowable adjustment in millage, which appeared to those not thinking through the matter that County Council was on a tax increasing binge.
Having so many separate tax districts is not an ideal system, but it is the one we have, and we have to make it work. The high level of cooperation among the fire departments is amazing and saves money. They have a preplanned system to back-up engaged units. They share training resources and equipment. Many firefighters are volunteers who spend enormous amounts of time learning and honing the skills that can make the difference between life and death.
In order to provide the level of resources essential to maintaining readiness County Council and citizens must fully appreciate all that fire departments do in serving the community.
Without adequate resources, readiness will deteriorate, training will be reduced, outdated equipment will not be replaced, and facilities not maintained.
If public safety is important, money has to be spent to keep fire departments capable of performing their missions. Citizens seem to understand this and County Council should.
Business owners and residents who came to Greenville County Square on Tuesday night all had one agenda: to support the Boiling Springs Fire District.
Each had three minutes or less to ask County Council to consider issuing a $2 million bond that would allow the fire district to buy a former church building on 208 Blacks Drive and renovate it into a fire station.
Some, including Milton Murphy, general manager of Speedway Packaging and Distribution, said a new fire station would help Boiling Springs keep its ISO rating of 1, the highest a department can achieve.
“If it were to drop, it would mean our insurance costs would go up, and we would have, basically, some choices to make,” Murphy said. “We can reduce our personnel at the site, or we have to raise our prices to our customers. Either way, it’s not good for us or the economy.” Claire Sizemore and Tim Greaves, a former firefighter, said the station’s proximity to heavily traveled Pelham Road and Interstate 85 would shave crucial minutes off emergency response times.
“The bottom line of this whole issue is life or death,” Sizemore said.
At issue is a fire district that spans 15 square miles across Greenville’s growing Eastside area. Its ISO rating will drop to 3 if a fourth station isn’t built soon, said Fire Chief Steve Graham.
“It was a godsend to find this piece of property with an existing building that we can renovate for about $2 million,” Graham said.
The general obligation bond would increase property taxes by $4.35 on a $100,000 owner-occupied home.
County Council members were divided on the issue during a Finance Committee meeting earlier this year.
Meadows and Councilman Sid Cates voted against the proposal, while Butch Kirven and Jim Burns voted in favor. Councilman Bob Taylor was absent but later cast the deciding 3-2 vote to allow the bond issuance to move forward.
A public hearing and second reading will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 4.
■ Staff writer Nathaniel Cary contributed to this report.
"Boiling Springs Fire Chief Steve Graham and Communication Service Center's Ronnie Channell looks at plans for the possible new station in a former church building off Pelham Road." - MYKAL MCELDOWNEY/GREENVILLE NEWS Staff
The Boiling Springs Fire Department plans to convert a church building off Pelham Road to a new fire station, adding firefighters to one of the fastest-growing areas of Greenville County and helping protect a coveted insurance rating for homeowners.
Boiling Springs Fire Chief Steve Graham told GreenvilleOnline.com that the department has a contract to purchase property on Blacks Drive from the Vineyard Church of Greenville in a transaction that should close about Aug. 10.
He declined to discuss the purchase price or the cost of any renovations.
Church officials couldn't be reached for comment.
Graham said fire officials plan to ask Greenville County officials to issue a $2 million general obligation bond to buy the property, pay for renovations and purchase a fire truck and related equipment.
Fire officials are scheduled to make the request Monday to the County Council's Finance Committee, he said.
The new station should open Nov.1 and house an engine company and nine firefighters, Graham said.
Graham said the new station will the department's fourth and help it maintain a Class 1 ISO rating, which can directly impact homeowners' insurance premiums. The department's headquarters will remain on Pelham Road near Interstate 85, Graham said.
ISO evaluates municipal fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the United States.
Officials say a community's investment in fire mitigation is a reliable predictor of future fire losses, and insurance companies use the information to help establish premiums for fire insurance -- generally offering lower premiums in communities with better protection.
According to its website, the church in May began meeting at the Eastside YMCA. Greenville County property records show the church owns three parcels on Blacks Drive.
Graham said the site totals more than 5.4 acres. It has a swimming pool, which could be used for the department's dive-team training, but "that's one of those things -- do the costs outweigh the benefits?" Graham said.
"The main focus is to get the station in operation," he said. "And then we're going to take some time and look at would it be better for the taxpayers of this (fire) district and operation of this fire department to maybe look at splitting that down and maybe selling some of the property."
The department has an agreement with county recreation officials to use Oak Grove Lake for diver training, Graham said.
He said environmental assessments and surveys are being conducted at the church site along with engineering and architectural reviews.
County records show Graham and the Vineyard Church filed an application with the county Board of Zoning Appeals to convert the church building to the fire station.
A Greenville County spokesman said no rezoning for the fire station is necessary. By special exception, the Board of Zoning Appeals can approve uses such as fire protection in residential areas.
The board will hold a hearing on the application at 3 p.m. July 13 in the County Council's chambers.
MEDIA ADVISORY – BOILING SPRINGS FIRE DISTRICT TO CONDUCT PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING
Additional Fire Station and Bond Issue are Top Agenda Items
Contact: Taft Matney Date: July 6, 2011 Phone: 864/505-8866 E-Mail:taft@taftmatney.com
This Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 7:00 p.m., members of the Boiling Springs Fire District (Greenville County, SC) will conduct a public information meeting at 208 Blacks Drive, Greenville, SC 29615 – the former site of Vineyard Church and the site of the district’s proposed new fire station (Click HERE for directions).
During the meeting, Chief Steve Graham will present the district’s need for an additional station based on a recent survey from the Insurance Services Office (ISO), and he will present an overview of the station’s design to renovate the existing structure.
There will also be a presentation concerning a general obligation bond to pay for the additional station, and Boiling Springs Fire District Commissioners will take questions from the public in attendance.
Currently, the Boiling Springs Fire District holds a Class 1 rating (the only one in the Upstate) from ISO, but based on its recent survey, due to population increases, without the new station the district will fall to a Class 3 – a move that could impact insurance premiums for commercial and residential policy holders.
According to Chief Steve Graham, “Our commissioners and personnel work tirelessly to ensure that our residents and business owners receive the best fire and emergency response protection we can provide. This event is designed to obtain public input as we prepare to add another level of service to a growing part of our district.”
About the Boiling Springs Fire District
Established in 1968 and located on Greenville County's Eastside, the Boiling Springs Fire District covers 15 square miles and serves over 26,000 residents. Governed by five commissioners recommended by county council and appointed by the governor, the Boiling Springs Fire District is a special purpose district responsible for addressing specific concerns and local issues among commercial and residential interests through 40 paid personnel and 20 volunteers operating out of 3 fire stations. The Boiling Springs Fire District is South Carolina's only ISO Class 1 fire department with a combination of paid and volunteer fire fighters.
For media inquiries, please contact Taft Matney by e-mail at taft@taftmatney.com or by phone at 864/505-8866.
MEDIA ADVISORY – BOILING SPRINGS FIRE DISTRICT TO PRESENT SIDE-BY-SIDE BURN
Event Designed to Demonstrate the Protective Benefits of Residential Sprinkler Systems
Contact: Taft Matney
Date: November 8, 2010
Phone: 864/505-8866
E-Mail: taft@taftmatney.com
Today, Monday, November 8 at 1:00 p.m., Boiling Springs Fire District personnel will conduct a “side-by-side” burn at the Taylors Fire Training Tower located at 2 Space Drive in Taylors (Near Wade Hampton Boulevard off of N. Watson Road).
Firefighters will ignite two nearly identical rooms (including build, floor coverings, furniture, and
smoke detector). The only difference is that one room will be equipped with a residential sprinkler system.
The purpose of the burn is to demonstrate how inclusion of fire sprinklers can and is saving lives and property.
This event is made possible through generous donations from the following sponsors:
The Home Depot – Structural Building Materials
American Fire Protection Corp – Sprinkler System
Millers of Greenville – Room Furnishings
Wal-Mart – Room Furnishings
Fire Marshal Jeff Nelson will be the primary spokesperson on-site and will be available at the burn
demonstration.
ABOUT THE BOILING SPRINGS FIRE DISTRICT
Established in 1968 and located on Greenville County's Eastside, the Boiling Springs Fire District covers 15 square miles and serves over 26,000 residents. Governed by five commissioners recommended by county council and appointed by the governor, the Boiling Springs Fire District is a special purpose district responsible for addressing specific concerns and local issues among commercial and residential interests through 40 paid personnel and 20 volunteers operating out of 3 fire stations. The Boiling Springs Fire District is South Carolina's only ISO Class 1 fire department with a combination of paid and volunteer fire fighters.
For media inquiries, please contact Taft Matney by e-mail at taft@taftmatney.com or by phone at 864/505-8866.
On Saturday, September 11, 2010, the Boiling Springs Fire District (BSFD) will hold a 9/11 remembrance ceremony at its headquarters located at 5020 Pelham Road in Greenville. The ceremony will begin at 8:40 a.m. and will mark the time that the World Trade Center’s north tower was struck by American Airlines Flight 11 nine years ago at 8:45 a.m. The BSFD Honor Guard will present the nation’s colors and post a set of firefighter’s turnout gear at the flagpole to honor responders who gave their lives. Chaplain Gary Rogers will read the Firefighters’ Prayer, and a moment of silence will be observed. BSFD has requested and been approved to receive a piece of steel from the World Trade Center that will be used as a centerpiece of a 9/11 memorial in front of the Pelham Road station. District officials hope to have the memorial completed with a dedication ceremony on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. For planning purposes, directions to Boiling Springs’ headquarters are below. From Greenville Take I-85 North to Pelham Road Bear right at the top of the exit ramp on to Pelham Road. BSFD Headquarters is located on the right on the corner at the first traffic signal. From Spartanburg Take I-85 South to Pelham Road Turn left at the top of the exit ramp on to Pelham Road. After crossing back over I-85, BSFD Headquarters is located on the right on the corner at the intersection of Pelham and Garlington Roads. About the Boiling Springs Fire District Established in 1968 and located on Greenville County’s Eastside, the Boiling Springs Fire District covers 15 square miles and serves over 26,000 residents. Governed by five commissioners recommended by county council and appointed by the governor, the Boiling Springs Fire District is a special purpose district responsible for addressing specific concerns and local issues among commercial and residential interests through 40 paid personnel and 20 volunteers operating out of 3 fire stations. The Boiling Springs Fire District is South Carolina’s only ISO Class 1 fire department with a combination of paid and volunteer fire fighters. For media inquiries, please contact Taft Matney by e-mail at taft@taftmatney.com or by phone at 864/505-8866.
BOILING SPRINGS FIRE DISTRICT DEDICATES & COMMISSIONS NEW PLATFORM TRUCK
NOTE: WYFF broadcast this report (Disable "HD" function for faster loading) anchored by Nigel Robertson during its 5:30 p.m. newscast on February 22, 2010.
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On the morning of February 22, 2010, Boiling Springs Fire District officials dedicated and commissioned Platform 2 -- the newest truck addition to the district's fleet which includes 8 fire engines, 2 aerial ladder trucks, and a rescue vehicle.
The traditional “wet down” ceremony took place at the district’s headquarters on Pelham Road in Greenville County (SC).
ABOUT “PLATFORM 2” Platform 2 is an American LaFrance Eagle equipped with a 100' platform and a 2000 gallon per minute pump. This truck's platform extension has the capability to reach the roof of a seven story building and includes an option to remove unconscious victims from upper floors via a cradle system to secure a rescue basket while still allowing room for firefighters to operate inside the platform area.
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ORIGINAL AIR DATE: February 22, 2010 during the 5:30 p.m. (EST) newscast. Copyright 2010 WYFF and Hearst Television, Inc.
Media Relations and Public Affairs handled by TM Public Relations & Governmental Affairs (www.taftmatney.com).
MEDIA ADVISORY – GREENVILLE FIRE DISTRICT TO DEDICATE AND COMMISSION NEW PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Contact: Taft Matney Date: February 19, 2010 Phone: 864/505-8866 E-Mail:taft@taftmatney.com
Monday, February 22 at 11:00 a.m., Boiling Springs Fire District officials will dedicate and commission Platform 2 -- the newest addition to the district's fleet which currently includes 8 fire engines, 2 aerial ladder trucks, and a rescue vehicle.
The traditional "wet down" ceremony will take place at the district's headquarters located at 5020 Pelham Road.
Immediately following the ceremony, the district will host a reception with hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.
For planning purposes, directions to Boiling Springs' headquarters are below.
From Greenville Take I-85 North to Pelham Road Bear right at the top of the exit ramp on to Pelham Road. BSFD Headquarters is located on the right on the corner at the first traffic signal.
From Spartanburg Take I-85 South to Pelham Road Turn left at the top of the exit ramp on to Pelham Road. After crossing back over I-85, BSFD Headquarters is located on the right on the corner at the intersection of Pelham and Garlington Roads.
About “Platform 2” Platform 2 is an American LaFrance Eagle equipped with a 100' platform and a 2000 gallon per minute pump. This truck's platform extension has the capability to reach the roof of a seven story building and includes an option to remove unconscious victims from upper floors via a cradle system to secure a rescue basket while still allowing room for firefighters to operate inside the platform area.
About the Boiling Springs Fire District Established in 1968 and located on Greenville County's Eastside, the Boiling Springs Fire District covers 15 square miles and serves over 26,000 residents. Governed by five commissioners recommended by county council and appointed by the governor, the Boiling Springs Fire District is a special purpose district responsible for addressing specific concerns and local issues among commercial and residential interests through 40 paid personnel and 20 volunteers operating out of 3 fire stations. The Boiling Springs Fire District is South Carolina's only ISO Class 1 fire department with a combination of paid and volunteer fire fighters.
For media inquiries, please contact Taft Matney by e-mail at taft@taftmatney.com or by phone at 864/505-8866.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS TO OVERSEE OPERATIONS WHILE SUCCESSOR SELECTED
(November 6, 2009 / Greenville, SC) Commissioners with Greenville County’s Boiling Springs Fire District announced that Chief Gerald Luker has retired.
Chief Luker joined Boiling Springs in 1984 after serving the Gantt Fire, Sewer and Police District beginning in 1974.
As district officials plan for Chief Luker’s replacement, Assistant Chiefs Steve Graham and Bill Stewart will manage the department’s day-to-day operations while commission chair J. R. Christy will oversee the district’s administrative functions.
“We appreciate Chief Luker’s years of dedication to the protection of the Boiling Springs Fire District and the people it serves. Under his leadership and with the commission’s cooperation, we became the only ISO Class 1 fire department in the Upstate,” Christy said noting the district’s achievement of the highest rating available by the organization that scores a department’s protective capability.
He added, “The assistant chiefs and I will work together to maintain a superior level of protection and to create a seamless transition over the months ahead.”
About the Boiling Springs Fire District Established in 1968 and located on Greenville County’s Eastside, the Boiling Springs Fire District covers 15 square miles and serves over 26,000 residents. Governed by five commissioners recommended by county council and appointed by the governor, the Boiling Springs Fire District is a special purpose district responsible for addressing specific concerns and local issues among commercial and residential interests through 40 paid personnel and 20 volunteers operating out of 3 fire stations. The district’s equipment battery includes 8 fire engines, 2 aerial ladder trucks, and a rescue vehicle. The Boiling Springs Fire District is South Carolina’s only ISO Class 1 fire department with a combination of paid and volunteer fire fighters.
To make inquiries regarding this release, please contact Taft Matney by phone (864/505-8866), by fax (864/297-3871), or by e-mail (taft@taftmatney.com).
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