Shutdown creates political firestormResidents concerned about protection By Dave Munday (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Sunday, July 27, 2008
DAVE MUNDAY The Ridgeville fire station looks almost bucolic in the shade of the trees that surround it, but it has fallen into such disrepair that the Dorchester County code-enforcement department condemned and closed it down recently. 
DAVE MUNDAY Ridgeville Fire Chief Herbert Cummings talks Wednesday afternoon about why the Dorchester County code-enforcement department shuttered the town's fire station last week because of conditions that made it unsafe. He's standing in the room where firefighters took their breaks. The insulation is on the floor because his men have been pulling it out of the ceiling to salvage wiring and ceiling fans before the building is demolished. RIDGEVILLE — Town officials are scrambling to appease residents worried about fire protection after a building inspector closed a fire station. The situation is particularly troublesome for those who live on north of the tracks that cut through town. Another station is south of town, but trucks could be cut off from a fire if a train rumbles through town. Only a backup plan prevents a recipe for disaster: Whenever a structure fire is reported in town, the dispatcher always calls two other nearby departments to start rolling. It was a topic of conversation last week at Vaughan's General Store. "I think it's sad that we live here in town and pay town taxes and the town itself doesn't have a fire department," clerk Brenda Hartzog said. "We're so thankful we live on this side of the tracks, where the other fire department is." Residents also are wondering how it happened and are throwing some political darts. Fire Chief Herbert Cummings said he's been trying to get council to fix the building across from Town Hall for years. Mayor James Williams said he gave the chief everything he asked for. Williams also said the town couldn't afford to keep running the fire station. He and Cummings were trying to turn it over to the county when the plan backfired. A county building inspector said that not only would the county not buy the building, but it wasn't fit for anybody to be in. It was closed July 17. Cummings said he doesn't blame the inspector. "It ought to be against the law to put a building like that on the market," he said. "I've been asking for them to fix that building for 15 years." The concrete walls were badly cracked. Plastic trash barrels sat under holes in the ceiling in the bay area to catch rainwater. Mold made the place intolerable for anyone with allergies. Cummings has been in there since it closed, clearing out what he can before the building is demolished. In the office a couple days ago, a blue plastic bucket held three chunks of concrete, each about the size of a brick. Cummings said they fell off one of the door frames and hit firefighter Michael Smith. The chunks are labeled with the date of the incident: Dec. 28, 2003. Smith took them to a council meeting to show officials but didn't get any results, Cummings said. Williams said council gave the Fire Department all it could. "Everything he asked for we found a way to do it," he said. "We never denied the Fire Department anything." The situation has been a political nightmare for Williams, who has been on council since 1997 and mayor since 2005. "I've been getting hit from all sides," he said. "We're trying to do the best we can." Nearby Harleyville turned their station over to the fire board a few years ago, Mayor Charles Ackerman said. Residents pay more taxes but now have new fire trucks and equipment. Dorchester County residents who live outside towns and cities pay extra property taxes to run the rural fire stations. Ridgeville residents also would have to agree to pay more taxes for the rural system to take over their fire station. It's likely a new station in Ridgeville would have to be bigger, with the town expanding as growth moves west of Summerville, Williams said. Williams said he was trying to line up a special council meeting Tuesday evening to talk about the situation. Meanwhile, Cummings is looking for another building in order to move some trucks back in town. He's also chief at the station south of town, which is part of the rural system. "The cow's out of the fence now, so you can't shut the gate," he said. |
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Comments
This article has 10 comment(s)
Posted by Neponset on July 27, 2008 at 5:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This sad story reminds me of another town to the east that also did not properly fund their FD and in their case lead to more than loss of property.
Posted by UberBlitzkrieg on July 27, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen to that Brother!
Posted by UberBlitzkrieg on July 27, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
also... sounds like the Mayor is speaking the same "game" as King Joe.
-- Williams said council gave the Fire Department all it could. "Everything he asked for we found a way to do it," he said. "We never denied the Fire Department anything."--
Sounds like double talk to me!
Posted by cave on July 27, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
While still rough around the edges, Chief Cummings and the other Dorchester County Fire Departments have made some huge improvements in the last few years with new trucks and paid firefighters. The county fire station has been subsidizing the towns fire department for years! Close the town department down completely and let the county take it over. As residents we deserve a real fire station not one the mayor has let fall down. This fire station did not grow mold and fall apart overnight! Mr Mayor, when was the last time you visited your Town Fire Station???
Posted by Neponset on July 27, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don’t know how bad the problems are, but couldn’t some thought be given to patching up and cleaning the building? Could use some off duty fire men (paid of course) to do most of the work.
Nurse the station along for a few years, while the town gets the money together for a new on.
Posted by guidedbystewart on July 27, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Chief Cummings is one of the coolest most interesting people I have met since moving to the low country. His old school lowcountry accent is like a combination of Foghorn Leghorn and a cajun guy that rarely leaves the swamp. He will probably retire because of this, which I feel will be a real loss for this part of Dorchester County. The Ridegville VFD have a passion for what they do. This is tragic to say the least. I hope the chief gets a new building real soon.
Posted by swhfd28 on July 27, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
give them what they want...a new fire station.
Posted by zoomru on July 27, 2008 at 5:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is this not in the district for Randy Scott?? Or should I say either Mike Rose or "Wild Bill" Collins ??
Wholly -- Dalmations!!
No wonder their in this MESS....Randy Scott was OUT drinkin'....
WOW....Rose or Collins has a "fire" smoldering already and their not in office YET!! I wonder how they are going to get bacon bits from Columbia to pay for this?? ANSWER: They're NOT !!
I highly suggest these two (2) fine candidate get up there to this firestation and set this up as one of their campaign headquarters to shine a light on this problem. At least turn the heat up on the MAYOR up there?!! Help him with some fund raisers while you are trolling for votes. Heck....show some Carolina teamwork and get ol' rascally Roberto Ford-asa up there as a show of unity!!
Heaven forbid that a fire break out and not have at least shown your concern in getting funds for a new firestation ?? Learn from history ...DO NOT be put in the same situation as MAYOR RILEY.... this is a ticking time ..FIRE !!!
GET BUSY ....BOYz !!
Posted by CaptPete on July 28, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Build another station soon. If a fire breaks out in town and Southern Railroad has a problem the trucks won't be able to cross the tracks. Right now the back up fire station is five mins out of town.
Posted by DoaMM on July 28, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Town", or "City" fire departments are for folks that live in the sticks. Only half of Dorchester county could be considered the boonies, while the other half is booming.
The only way to get exceptional emergency response coverage for a county growing as fast as Dorchester is to have a county-based fire department. Towns and cities do not have the funding that counties do. This is proven over and over again all across the US.
But so many of these small town fire departments don't want to become part of a bigger system because they lose their titles. "I'm Chief So-and-So! This is MY department!!"
Fire Department Egos (especially at the top) are sometimes the worst...
Just build them a new station so they can continue their not-so-great volunteer system...