Hoses, helmets and rubber boots abounded in Richland County this week as hundreds of firefighters from across the state visited the Capital County to take part in two simultaneous conferences.
The 2018 Fire-Rescue Conference began Monday and wraps up Saturday with hands-on training, classroom instruction and live demonstrations occurring in several locations, including portions of the Broad River, the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center and the S.C. Fire Academy campus in northwest Richland County. The S.C. State Association of Fire Chiefs kicked off its 74th Annual Leadership Conference in Columbia on Wednesday.
Richland County Council Chair Joyce Dickerson, District 2, welcomed the firefighters and instructors during the opening ceremony of the Leadership Conference and commended them for their commitment to public safety. During the Leadership Conference, a familiar face was sworn in as second vice president of the S.C. State Fire Chiefs: Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins.
“I am very honored to serve in this role,” Jenkins said. “I will continue to bring the support and changes needed to make South Carolina the premier state in fire service.”
The State Fire Chiefs Association works to provide valuable information, training and resources to fire service managers throughout South Carolina. Jenkins previously served as third vice president of the organization.
“It pleases and impresses me to know that the residents of Richland County and Columbia are in such good hands with the quality fire service provided by our men and women of the fire department, under the exceptional leadership of Chief Jenkins,” Dickerson said. “Quality fire service is one of the most critical assets a community can have.”
Richland County provides roughly $21.7 million annually to the Columbia-Richland Fire Department through an intergovernmental agreement that ensures fire response and fire safety prevention measures are provided to all residents of Richland County. Fully staffed, the fire department has more than 500 personnel who cover 31 fire stations and respond to nearly 40,000 calls each year.