Richland County Emergency Services
The mission of Richland County Emergency Services is to provide professional and cost-effective emergency and public safety planning, preparedness programs, response and recovery to the residents of Richland County. With modern support systems and prompt and courteous service, this mission is accomplished through a dedicated and professional effort by all emergency service personnel.
Richland County Emergency Services
1410 Laurens St.
Columbia, SC 29204
Phone: 803-576-3400
Fax: 803-748-5055
Email Emergency Services
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Richland County’s award-winning EMS team is one of the busiest – if not the busiest – EMS units in South Carolina. Crews respond to more than 74,000 calls each year. The County’s EMS has distinguished itself as one of only a few nationwide to have a motorcycle paramedic response team, and the department recently initiated South Carolina’s first Mobile Integrated Healthcare Collaborative, a program that has helped more than 100 patients save more than $300,000 in healthcare cost through education, resource guidance and assistance. Click here to learn more about Richland County's award-winning EMS department.
Work for Richland County EMS
Joining EMS, a division of the Emergency Services Department, is an opportunity for a career in public service or a path to a career in the private healthcare field. The County is looking for men and women who are dedicated to the mission of service. Richland County EMS personnel have been recognized locally, statewide and nationally for their treatment of heart attack victims, educational efforts, innovative programs and rapid response times.
Click here to learn more about EMT and paramedic responsibilities, minimum requirements, and benefits (including competitive pay; health, dental and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays, annual training, furnished uniforms and more). Click here to apply online.
Contact Richland County EMS
Click here to request an EMS unit for a special event, speaking engagement or show-n-tell. Click here for send a comment about EMS service or ask a question about a bill of service.
Click here to learn about the Richland County EMS notice of privacy practices, and here for a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) authorization form.
Emergency Management
Richland County's Emergency Management team is a diverse group of professionals who specialize in emergency management, public safety planning and disaster preparedness. Click here for important emergency preparedness information, including checklists for emergency supply kits.
Receive emergency notifications
To receive emergency notifications specific to your address, sign up to receive notifications through the Columbia-Richland Citizen Alert System. In the case of an emergency, you can be alerted via phone call, text message or email. Click here for more information.
Power outages
Report a power outage directly to the utility provider:
Dominion Energy, 888-333-4465
Fairfield Electric, 800-499-7862
Tri-County Electric, 803-353-8746
Downed limbs and debris
To report downed limbs and debris blocking roadways,
contact Richland County's non-emergency line at 803-576-3439.
Emergency Evacuation Reporting
The State of South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Emergency Order, whereas, hospitals, nursing homes, and other residential care facilities subject to regulation pursuant to SC Code Ann. §44-7-20 et seq. and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto are required to prepare and maintain Emergency Evacuation Plans; more....
Fire and Enforcement Division
It is the mission of the Richland County Fire Marshal's Office to prevent and/or reduce incidences of fire by increasing the awareness and knowledge of residents, contractors, businesses, and construction industry professional’s prospective of fire safety. This mission is accomplished through an array of fire prevention initiatives, compliance inspections, and fire plan review, in compliance with Fire Safety Codes and applicable regulations adopted by Richland County and the State of South Carolina.
Click here to learn more about fire plan reviews, codes and standards and the inspection process.
Burn Ordinance and Notification Process
Residents in the unincorporated areas of Richland County, meeting the requirements outlined in the Richland County Ordinance Chapter 10 Fire Prevention are required to call 576-3404 for open burn notification, in addition to the South Carolina Forestry Commission (800-517-9638) prior to burning. For more information about the County's burn ordinance, click here.
Columbia-Richland County Fire Department
The Columbia-Richland County Fire Department is the largest in the state and is responsible for serving nearly 500,000 residents within the City of Columbia and Richland County. The fire department responds to 35,000-40,000 emergency incidents per year, protecting both rural and densely populated urban areas. Fully staffed, the department has 500 personnel covering 31 fire stations. Click here to learn more.
Hazardous Materials (HazMat)
The HazMat Division administers and enforces Richland County’s Hazardous Materials Ordinance and issues required HazMat Permits to County businesses. HazMat Investigators conduct Compliance Inspections, Investigations, Emergency Response and Enforcement Actions to maintain Public Safety. Should you have questions or a HazMat related complaint – such as dumping, chemical spills, illegal HazMat activity, discovery of hazardous waste – please email a HazMat officer at Hazmat@richlandcountysc.gov or call the Ombudsman’s Office at 803-929-6000.
Richland County Ordinance No. 13 requires businesses that produce, store, sell, dispense handle or otherwise have HazMat on their property, in volumes indicated, to apply, obtain and maintain a Hazardous Materials Plan and Registration. Please contact the HazMat Division at Hazmat@richlandcountysc.gov or 803-782-6182 to obtain HazMat Plan forms and documents.
Hazardous Materials Ordinance #13, 1995
Hazardous Materials Certification Statement
Additional Links
SC Emergency Management Division
SC Department of Health & Environmental Control
US Environmental Protection Agency
SC State Law Enforcement Division, Counter Terrorism Information
US Department of Homeland Security