| Assistant Chief Jimmy Townsend |
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January of 1990, I became a Fire Department Board Member for Moncks Corner Rural and
a month later became a firefighter with them as well. I joined because I had a lot of spare
time and had many friends in the department. I was able to quickly move up in rank to
Lieutenant then Captain of the Fairlawn Station, and further to Assistant Chief when
Scott Lee was appointed the Chief of Moncks Corner Rural.
I have seen this fire department grow from a $40,000 yearly budget to a yearly budget of
$245,000. When I joined in 1990, we had one old, small fire truck and one older,
converted gas truck tanker. Now we have five fire engines, three brush trucks, three
officer vehicles, two service trucks, two water tankers, one ladder truck, one ARFF
truck, a fireboat, and a 6x6 ATV. Moncks Corner Rural Fire Department started with a 9
ISO
rating, and moved to a Class 5 Rural Water Rating meaning that anywhere in our fire
district, we are Class 5 with or without fire hydrants. There are only about 10 fire
departments in the state of South Carolina with this rating.
Since joining the department, I have been trained abundantly not only fire firefighting, but
also HAZMAT, WMD, extrication, officer skills, and arson investigation. I am also a member
of the International Arson Investigators. A full list of my training includes: Old Phase 1,
400, 700, & 800.
a month later became a firefighter with them as well. I joined because I had a lot of spare
time and had many friends in the department. I was able to quickly move up in rank to
Lieutenant then Captain of the Fairlawn Station, and further to Assistant Chief when
Scott Lee was appointed the Chief of Moncks Corner Rural.
I have seen this fire department grow from a $40,000 yearly budget to a yearly budget of
$245,000. When I joined in 1990, we had one old, small fire truck and one older,
converted gas truck tanker. Now we have five fire engines, three brush trucks, three
officer vehicles, two service trucks, two water tankers, one ladder truck, one ARFF
truck, a fireboat, and a 6x6 ATV. Moncks Corner Rural Fire Department started with a 9
ISO
rating, and moved to a Class 5 Rural Water Rating meaning that anywhere in our fire
district, we are Class 5 with or without fire hydrants. There are only about 10 fire
departments in the state of South Carolina with this rating.
Since joining the department, I have been trained abundantly not only fire firefighting, but
also HAZMAT, WMD, extrication, officer skills, and arson investigation. I am also a member
of the International Arson Investigators. A full list of my training includes: Old Phase 1,
400, 700, & 800.