Three fire departments merge in Berkeley County
November 21, 2022
To Cut Costs, Improve Fire Services in Each District
Three fire departments in Berkeley County recently merged to save costs and improve services to citizens. Effective November 1, 2022, the following fire departments consolidated services: Pine Ridge Fire Department in Summerville; Sandridge Volunteer Fire Department in Ridgeville; and Long Ridge Rural Volunteer Fire Department in Moncks Corner.
Each fire district contains paid, part-time firefighters. The departments will be maintaining their station names and numbers, with Pine Ridge Department serving as the parent department and assuming administrative control of all three departments/districts. The departments also formed a unified Board of Directors containing representatives from each fire district.
Each department has volunteered to be part of the merger in order to enhance the emergency response coverage and improve resiliency within the affected portion of the County. Fire officials also saw a way to help save money by eliminating unnecessary administrative and maintenance costs that are duplicated in each district.
“We are excited to be working with the Consolidated Board of Directors and Chiefs of Long Ridge and Sandridge. Together, we have formed a unified plan to improve fire protection throughout these communities by working to update equipment, facilities and staffing,” said Chief Ben Waring, Pine Ridge Fire Department.
