South Carolina State Firefighters' Association

📸 Fire Service Improvement Conference day 3 🤙

Pictures from FSIC are uploaded daily. Check ‘em out and download ➡️ 196069350@N04/42Rg20P0pC" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/gp/196069350@N04/42Rg20P0pC

📸 Pics from FSIC day ✌️

We had an outstanding turnout for last night's roundtable with Micah Rains, Michael Dozier, Jonah Smith, and Blake Cartee. Thanks to Chief Vaigneur for moderating and our panelists for great conversation!

If you missed it, you can watch "Today's Fire Service Roundtable" on our YouTube. 👉 https://www.youtube.com/live/U4_-BcunZVk?si=29LfxYzvWyoxyGRX

Ready for a fantastic FSIC day 3 🔥

Hornet Fire Training The Company Officer

Join us live on YouTube for Today’s Fire Service Roundtable ⬇️

Today's Fire Service Roundtable Blake Cartee, Michael Dozier, Micah Rains, and Jonah Smith are joining us tonight for a roundtable discussion on today’s fire service. This is a group of nat...

We’re preparing for a beautiful day 2 at Fire Service Improvement Conference! It truly takes a village to host FSIC and we couldn’t do it without our partners. From apparatus to training facilities to grain bin props, our partners have us covered. Thank you for supporting South Carolina firefighters and FSIC 🤝

📸 Snapshots from Fire Service Improvement Conference day 1️⃣

We're broadcasting Friday night's "Today's Fire Service Roundtable" during Fire Service Improvement Conference on our YOUTUBE channel! We're excited to have Blake Cartee, Michael Dozier, Micah Rains, and Jonah Smith lead our discussion. Many thanks to the multitalented Chief Will Vaigneur for moderating.

Tune in when we go live at 7 p.m. ➡ https://www.youtube.com/live/U4_-BcunZVk?si=0tHWkEHPXPA0ajS0

Congrats Dylan and Graysen!

We love seeing department awards and celebrating with them in their accomplishments. Here at the Association, we have the unique opportunity to share your good deeds on the state level.

Nominations are due January 31—that's only TWO WEEKS away! Please consider submitting your department awards for an Association award. ➡️ https://scfirefighters.org/membership/awards/

Retired Sumter Fire Department Assistant Chief Brian Christmas resigned as 2nd Vice President of the South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association effective January 15, 2024. It was announced earlier this month that Christmas is joining the Youngsville Fire Department in North Carolina as fire chief.

Chief Christmas has served the state’s fire service for many years as an active member of the Association. He served as Chair and member of the Bylaws Committee and is a past member of the Members Benefits Committee. In addition, Chief Christmas is Past President and Board Member of the South Carolina Chapter of the International Association of Fire Arson Investigators.

“I hope that the relationships that I have made will be a lifetime, even though I am moving away,” Chief Christmas said about his time in Sumter and his tenure on the Executive Committee. "There were so many great people that I had the pleasure to meet and got a better understanding of what the needs were, whether it was a small volunteer fire department or a large paid fire department.”

“Chief Christmas’ departure is bittersweet,” said Association Deputy Director Jamie Helms. “While we will miss Chief Christmas’ contributions to the Association and his drive to provide South Carolina firefighters with excellence, we are also excited for him and his family in this new chapter.”

“I would like to thank the members, staff, and Executive Committee of the South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association for supporting me over the years and want to let them know that I love and care for each of them and even though I will be moving to another state, I look forward to seeing each of you at trainings and conferences in the future,” said Chief Christmas about his departure.

Congratulations, Chief Christmas!

*Note for Voting Members*

The Association’s Constitution and Bylaws, Article 3 Section 3, states, “the President shall make a recommendation for appointment to the Executive Committee for approval to serve the remainder of the un-expired term.”

In accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws, President Malcolm Burns recommended Dorchester County Fire Rescue Chief Tres Atkinson for interim 2nd Vice President and the recommendation was approved by the Executive Committee during its meeting on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. Chief Atkinson will serve as 2VP until the election concludes during Fire-Rescue 2024.

At this time, three candidates are campaigning to be elected to the Executive Committee as 4th Vice President. The candidate who receives the highest number of votes will be elected 3rd Vice President; the second highest, 4th Vice President. Meet the candidates 👉 https://scfirefighters.org/about/executive-committee-elections/

We're halfway through CRR Week! We know Community Risk Reduction is a year-round effort; use this week to reinforce in your department the importance of CRR for the communities you serve.

FAQs | CRR Week CRR Week FAQs Download a PDF of the FAQs When is CRR Week? CRR Week 2024 kicks off on Martin Luther King Day, a National Day of Service, which is Monday, January 15, 2024. It runs through Sunday, January 21. What is CRR? CRR is a data-driven process to identify and prioritize local risks, followed b...

South Carolina State Weekend at the National Fire Academy is July 12-14. Register before the May 31 deadline!

Courses available include:

▪️Leadership in Supervision: Frameworks to Success
▪️New Fire Chief: Administrative Issues
▪️Incident Safety Officer
▪️Fire Investigation: First Responders
▪️Preparation Initial Company Operations
▪️Executive Skills Series: Exercising Leadership within Communities
▪️Executive Skills Series: Exercising Leadership to Facilitate Adaptive Change
▪️Incident Command System Structure Collapse Incidents
▪️Wildland Urban Interface Firefighting Operations Structural Company Officers

Check out the NINE classes being taught during this summer’s 2024 NFA State weekend.

VISIT:https://statefire.llr.sc.gov/scfa/pdf/2023/2024StateWeekend.pdf

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 31, 2024

The South Carolina fire service lost a great leader yesterday. Shon's selflessness couldn't be confined to the Upstate; his work with USAR took him all over the state and beyond. Thank you, Shon, for a noble and admirable life of service.

Please join us in covering the Hamilton family and everyone who loved Shon in prayer for peace and comfort.

No law impacts fire departments more than the Fair Labor Standards Act, and that’s why the Recruitment and Retention Committee is proud to bring to the South Carolina fire service the FLSA Bootcamp for Volunteer and Combination Fire Departments with speaker Curt Varone.

This day-long bootcamp provides leaders of volunteer and combination fire departments with a foundation for understanding the FLSA, focusing on the topics of greatest concern including: what is a volunteer; compensation, benefits, expenses, and nominal fees; compensation for wildland deployments, and more.

This bootcamp is specifically beneficial for fire department management, human resources, legal teams or anyone that deals with compensation, benefits, and expenses, for your department.

We hope to see you at the FLSA Bootcamp for Volunteer and Combination Fire Departments on Friday, February 23, 2024 from 9:30 a.m. -3 p.m. at Saluda Shoals Park—River Center, 5605 Bush River Road, Columbia 29212.

Register for this FREE training 👉 https://scsfaevents.org/flsa-bootcamp/

The South Carolina General Assembly convened on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. This is the second year of a two-year session and marks the beginning of the 125th session South Carolina General Assembly.

Read our first Legislative Update of 2024. ➡️ https://scfirefighters.org/advocacy/legislative/

Most trades don’t require conversations about preparing for the injury or death of a member of your team.

Unlike other industries and occupations where business initiatives are met by completing tasks and meeting goals, the primary goal of emergency services is the life and safety of the people they’ve been called to help—including their own.

The fire service has come a long way when it comes to health and safety, but this is still an inherently dangerous job. Line of duty deaths and injuries still occur. Are you prepared if tragedy strikes?

We're hosting a 3-day LODD Preparedness Series January 24-26. Courses include Taking Care of Our Own, Wednesday, January 24, 9 a.m.-5p.m.; Local Assistance State Team (LAST) Training—Thursday, January 25, 9 a.m.-5p.m.; and Leadership So Everyone Goes Home—Friday, January 26, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

This is a free training. Please register if you plan to attend so we have an accurate headcount for lunch. 🔗👉 https://scsfaevents.org/lodd-preparedness/

Almost time!!

One week until the Hand in Hand Enjin school.

Super excited to continue to provide a one of a kind school for firefighters in the Palmetto State. Hope to see you there in Columbia next Thursday!!

Thanks again to the South Carolina State Firefighters' Association for allowing us this tremendous opportunity!!

1️⃣ week until Fire Service Improvement Conference!

If you've registered for FSIC and haven't received a confirmation email, please check your junk/spam folders. If you've searched everywhere in your email and do not have a confirmation, please send us a direct message.

All class details are available online 👉 https://scsfaevents.org/fsic_details/

Beautiful banquet. Congrats Dustin, Justin, Michael, Jeremiah, Chris, Riley, John, and Nick! LaRue, Evan, Dwight, Alex, John G, Michael, John M, Jacob, Myron, Anthony, and Chris for your dedication to the West Florence community.

We love seeing department awards and celebrating with them in their accomplishments. Scrolling social media and seeing the fellowship among members and their families at banquets is better than medicine.

Your department awards allow you to recognize your members at home. Here at the Association, we have the unique opportunity to share your good deeds on the state level.

Please consider submitting your department awards for an Association award 👉 https://scfirefighters.org/membership/awards/

Way to go Brian!

We love seeing department awards and celebrating with them in their accomplishments. Here at the Association, we have the unique opportunity to share your good deeds on the state level.

Please consider submitting your department awards for an Association award 👉 https://scfirefighters.org/membership/awards/

Congratulations Mariana, Jakrynn, and Adrien! 👏

We love seeing department awards and celebrating with them in their accomplishments. Scrolling social media and seeing the fellowship among members and their families at awards banquets is better than medicine.

Your department awards allow you to recognize your members at home. Here at the Association, we have the unique opportunity to share your good deeds on the state level.

Please consider submitting your department awards for an Association award ↪️ https://scfirefighters.org/membership/awards/

Governor McMaster has declared January 15-21, 2024 as CRR Week.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster proclaims next week, January 15-21, 2024, as Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Week. Next week is a great time to jump start CRR activities in your community. Visit CRR Week and https://crrweek.org to learn more!

Thankful for great CRR partnerships here with South Carolina State Firefighters' Association, South Carolina State Association of Fire Chiefs, South Carolina State Fire, South Carolina Fire Marshals Association, and South Carolina Chapter International Association of Arson Investigators

Applicants for the Fire Officer Academy: The Company Officer March 24-01 class are working through the online portion of the program before the January 26 deadline. The online assignments must be completed before being selected for the in-person portion.

Good luck!

Happy National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day to all our public safety sisters and brothers in blue who protect and serve. We appreciate you!

Lexington’s Northside Baptist Church’s men’s group, Men of N, is hosting its Sportsmen’s Banquet on February 8, 2024, featuring Chief Kelvin Cochran. Former City of Atlanta Fire Chief and administrator for the United States Fire Administration, Chief Cochran is presenting “Facing the Fire: Courage and Grace to Stand” in an evening organized to honor first responders.

This is a must-attend and typically sells out. Get your tickets 👉 www.menofn.org

AFG workshops are open ⬇️

🚨FY23 AFG application development workshops are happening now! Join FEMA for hour-long sessions intended to provide the latest AFG program and to assist applicants in developing narratives for the upcoming application period.
🔗https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/workshops

Congratulations, Lieutenant Acord! 👏

We love seeing department awards and celebrating with them in their accomplishments. Here at the Association, we have the unique opportunity to share your good deeds on the state level.

Please consider submitting your department awards for an Association award 👉 https://scfirefighters.org/membership/awards/