ORANGEBURG, S.C. — After a fire in 2022, Southern Propane in Orangeburg has officially reopened.
Over the past year and a half, the propane company continued to serve Orangeburg County in a temporary work trailer.
Eddie Thompson is general manager of the Southern Propane in both Orangeburg and Chapin. Thompson says the fire was a major setback.
"We lost everything in the building,” said Thompson. “All the appliances, parts, and then they had to put a mobile office in to work out of for a year bout a half and it had a heavy impact."
James McQuilla is the president of Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce and says Southern Propane's presence drives competition and offers options for local residents.
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"You need options in order to have competition,” said McQuilla. “Competition is in the best interest of the consumer and again Orangeburg is growing. So you don't want to say well; we have five doctors offices, we need ten more. You already have four propane companies, we could use three more, you already have twelve restaurants, we could use twenty more. Because of growth, competition and so economically it's going to benefit us its going to benefit the community."