ST MATTHEWS, S.C. — The town of St. Matthews will have a new fire department before the end of the year.
State Representative Russell L. Ott secured $750,000 in funding for the towns new fire station which will be located at the old National Guard armory in town.
Greg Sandlin is the fire chief and says the new facility provides ample space for training exercises.
“Mainly the newer stuff that we’re going to be able to have over there is because the facility sits on two and a half acres,” said Chief Sandlin. “We’ll be able to implement our own training props where we don’t have to go to other counties to do it we’’ have it right there on site and we’ll be able to train a lot better.”
Assistant chief John Sandifer says he was shocked at the layout of the current department complex.
“When I joined here I was like man this is like the only department I’ve ever seen that is so separated,” said Sandifer. “Usually you have buildings and then the bays and then I was like wow this is different.”
The new department building will have all eight bays attached to bunk rooms, offices, training rooms, and storage.
One of the big issues the fire department is facing at the current facility is the uneven state of the driveway. Potholes and dirt prevent the trucks from leaving the department at top speed. Chief Sandlin says if they pull out to quick there could be damages to the trucks.
“Once we get into that truck, if you see that driveway right there, and this parking lot,” said Chief Sandlin. “You can’t get out of here very quick you gotta take your time otherwise you tear up the trucks.”
Fire captain Ross Binsley says having a leveled lot for the fire trucks will keep them in good condition.
“Obviously the station is going to be great,” said Binsley. “Having our own dorm rooms and having a place to congregate together but having pads out front that are leveled and grated properly that we can pull these trucks out on and shine them up and keep them looking good so that way we can represent the town while we’re out and about and people don’t think that we’re not taking care of our equipment.”
Deborah Bonaparte lives in town and says this new department building will be a big help to the town.
“I think it’s a great added attraction to our county,” said Bonaparte. “It’s very small its time for a change and I’m sure that services will be much much greater than it was before.”
The fire department expects their new building to be completed before the end of the summer. When they do move out, their old building will be repurposed for the town’s maintenance department.