BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. — Firefighters across Berkeley County are being recognized at the state level for their commitment to preventing fires and protecting lives, with 12 local departments earning the 2025 Fire Safe South Carolina Community Designation.
The honor is part of a broader statewide effort that recognized 241 fire departments across all 46 counties — the largest number in the program’s history. But in Berkeley County, officials say the recognition highlights a strong, coordinated push toward community risk reduction and fire prevention.
Berkeley County departments recognized
The following 12 departments in Berkeley County received the designation:
- Berkeley County Emergency Management
- C&B Fire Department
- Caromi Fire Department
- Central Berkeley Fire & EMS
- Goose Creek City Fire Department
- Goose Creek Rural Fire Department
- Hanahan Fire and EMS
- Moncks Corner Rural Fire Department
- North Berkeley Fire District
- Pimlico Rural Volunteer Fire Department
- Pine Ridge Fire Department
- Town of Moncks Corner Fire Department
Focus on prevention, not just response
The Fire Safe South Carolina program emphasizes that modern fire service goes beyond emergency response. Departments that earn the designation are recognized for actively working to reduce fire risks through education, outreach and data-driven strategies.
That includes teaching residents about fire safety, building partnerships in the community and analyzing emergency call data to identify and address local hazards before they become tragedies.
South Carolina State Fire Marshal Jonathan Jones said the initiative reflects a growing shift in how fire departments operate.
“Fire departments across South Carolina are demonstrating through risk reduction that prevention and education are just as important as emergency response,” Jones said. “These departments are taking proactive steps to reduce risks to their citizens and protect their communities.”
A growing statewide effort
Launched in 2017, the Fire Safe South Carolina program is a partnership between several statewide fire service organizations, all working toward a shared goal: reducing fires and saving lives.
Josh Fulbright, Chief of Community Risk Reduction at SC State Fire, emphasized that prevention remains central to that mission.
“Reducing fires and associated deaths is at the core of our mission,” Fulbright said.
State officials say the program will play a key role in their 2026 priority of reducing home fire fatalities across South Carolina.
What it means for Berkeley County residents
For residents, the designation signals that their local fire departments are not only prepared to respond to emergencies — but are actively working behind the scenes to prevent them.
From smoke alarm campaigns to public education and targeted safety initiatives, these efforts aim to make neighborhoods across Berkeley County safer long before a fire ever starts.
The recognized departments will be honored during an awards ceremony on June 12 at the 2026 Fire-Rescue Conference in Myrtle Beach.
