DENMARK, S.C. — Residents of Bamberg County now have access to a new fire substation, officially launched on Friday. The substation, located just outside Denmark, will provide improved emergency services to the community.
Bamberg County has nine fire stations, and Friday marked the opening of the third substation, situated in the Jamisonville community.
The Holman's Bridge Fire Substation is a $500,000 project funded by the fire tax that residents have been paying for years.
"To celebrate a new fire station, it means a whole lot for fire protection in this county and this area of the county and for homeowners in this area because I think they can get a better rate for fire insurance," said Evertt Comer Jr., chairman of the Bamberg County Council.
According to the county, homeowners with houses valued at $125,000 will save 27% annually on insurance costs due to the station's proximity, which equates to $533 in savings each year.
"We had a significant number of homes and homeowners in this area that were considered without fire protection," said Paul Eubanks, Bamberg County Fire Coordinator. "So, now that we’ve brought a fire station closer to their community, they will now have a better classification. It will save them on their homeowners insurance and put the resources that they will need closer to them should they need it."
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Weesie Fickling, one of the 350 residents set to benefit from the new substation, expressed relief at the added safety.
"Oh, it makes me feel safer and I know that if a fire breaks out, they’re not far from us. Two miles isn’t very far," she said.
The Denmark Fire Department volunteers will staff the new substation with firefighters in the local community.
Bamberg Fire officials say the new substation helps close the county's largest and most exposed fire coverage gap.