Whitefield firefighters responded to 252 incidents in 2015:

48 Structure Fires,
12 Alarms; (10 fire alarms, 2 carbon monoxide alarms),
1 Standby Request,
10 Vehicle Fires,
23 Grass/Brush Fires,
10 Trash Fires,
100 Traffic Accidents (81 accidents with injuries, 19 accidents with no injuries),
2 EMS Assists,
4 Gas Leaks,
0 Rescues,
11 Service Calls,
12 Power Line Downs,
0 Assist Other Agency,
19 False Alarm/Cancelled Calls

At the Whitefield Volunteer Fire Department’s annual Christmas Dinner and Awards Banquet, Columbia Fire Department Assistant Chief Jamie Helms and Captain Kevin King presented certificates of appreciation to the Whitefield Fire Department and each firefighter that responded to assist with the Tanker Task Force during Flood Joaquin in October.

Whitefield Volunteer Fire Department crews initially responded Sunday, October 4 with 15 other tankers from across the state to support a tanker task force as part of South Carolina’s Firefighter Mobilization Plan, after severe flooding left the city without a continuous water supply. They arrived in Columbia at 10:00 pm and immediately began work to supply water to a downtown hospital and Level 1 Trauma Center, preventing it from being evacuated. For 16 continuous hours, Whitefield’s tanker alone shuttled over 34,000 gallons of water to support the operation.  

Upon return to the staging area, Whitefield’s tanker was assigned to provide water supply support to Columbia Engine 11. Whitefield’s volunteer firefighters stepped up and volunteered to take time from their work and families to commit to 48 hour shifts for seven additional days to support the tanker task force operation.
Pictured from left to right… Firefighter Sam Biggs, Lieutenant Chase Rapien, Safety Officer Bob Mosley, Columbia FD Captain Kevin King, Columbia FD Assistant Chief Jamie Helms, West Pelzer FD Chief David Huff, Firefighter Brad Guin, Chief Adam Cromer and Firefighter Daniel Freeman. Not pictured are Captain Michael Ryan and Firefighter Jordan Latimer.

Congratulations to the Whitefield Volunteer Fire Department 2015 award recipients. Pictured left to right… Chief Adam Cromer, Safety Officer Bob Mosley (Officer of the Year), Firefighter Rusty Ducworth (Firefighter of the Year), and Josh Guin (Explorer of the Year). 

Whitefield firefighters responded to 181 incidents in 2014:

31 Structure Fires,
22 Alarms; 17 fire alarms, 5 carbon monoxide alarms,
1 Standby Request,
4 Vehicle Fires,
16 Grass/Brush Fires,
3 Trash Fires,
76 Auto Accidents (54 with injuries, 22 with no injuries),
2 EMS Assists,
3 Gas Leaks,
1 Animal Rescues,
3 Service Calls,
2 Power Line Downs,
1 Assist Other Agency,
16 False Alarm/Cancelled Calls.

On December 19, the Whitefield FD hosted their annual Christmas dinner and awards banquet at the Bleckley Inn. Firefighter Brad Guin received the Firefighter of the Year award, Junior Firefighter Josh Guin received the Explorer of the Year award, and Firefighter Nick Chastain received a Black Helmet award in anticipation of his upcoming high school graduation. Through Firefighter Chastain’s high school courses, he has already received National Firefighter I certification. Congratulations guys on your accomplishments.

From left to right… Lt. Chase Rapien, Capt. Michael Ryan, Lt. Billy Guin, Explorer of the Year Josh Guin, Firefighter of the Year Brad Guin, Black Helmet Award recipient Nick Chastain, Chief Adam Cromer and Asst. Chief Paul Drake.

The Whitefield FD held its annual Christmas Dinner at Tucker’s Restaurant on December 20. Assistant Chief Ross Ables, Lieutenant Josh Clark, Safety Officer Bob Mosley, and firefighters Paul Drake and Josh West received Courage and Lifesaving Awards for the following incident on Willingham Road in March.

“On March 19, 2013 at 15:52 hours, a teenage male and female were traveling along Willingham Road when the vehicle they were in ran off the side of the road, struck a concrete culvert pipe, overturned and burst into flames. 

The Whitefield Fire Department was dispatched to 228 Willingham Road for the motor vehicle accident and was advised of the reported rollover, vehicle fire and entrapment.  Assistant Chief Ross Ables, Safety Officer Bob Mosley, and firefighters Paul Drake and Josh West responded from their places of employment to the fire station to retrieve a rescue truck and fire engine. 

While firefighters were enroute to the scene, a nearby resident who heard the crash and saw flames grabbed a five gallon bucket of water to douse the flames, but it was not enough to put out the flames that continued to build.  He and a passing motorist then pulled the male occupant from the vehicle but were unable to remove the female occupant.

Firefighters arrived to the scene at 15:57 hours, and observed a female victim trapped inside the burning vehicle.  Firefighters Paul Drake and Josh West immediately worked to extinguish the vehicle fire while Lieutenant Josh Clark and Safety Officer Bob Mosley began extrication of the passenger door for patient removal.

Williamston EMS summoned LifeFlight helicopter to the scene to transport the female burn victim, requiring Assistant Chief Ables to secure a landing zone. 

By 16:20 hours, the female burn victim had been loaded into the awaiting helicopter and transported to a local hospital for treatment of her burns and injuries, and the male occupant transported to a local hospital by Williamston EMS.

The swift and heroic actions of the citizens and these firefighters directly resulted in two teenage lives saved.  While the male has recovered from his injuries, the female continues to receive treatment for her injuries.”

Whitefield FD’s 2013 Christmas Dinner was held on December 20, 2013 at Tucker’s Restaurant. Firefighter Jordan Latimer received the Firefighter of the Year Award, Captain Michael Ryan received the Officer of the Year Award, and Explorer Josh Guin received the Explorer of the Year Award.  Congratulations guys on your hard work and dedication to the community.