Bamberg, South Carolina (October 2022) - On October 11, 2022, Bamberg County held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Holmans Bridge Fire Substation. In 2021, Bamberg County resident Jody Reeves generously donated property to Bamberg County to aid the development. The new state-of-the-art substation, located at 1500 Charleston Augusta Highway, is strategically located in the northeastern section of Bamberg County which includes the communities of Sweden, Finland, and Jamiesonville.
A crowd of local residents and public officials gathered to hear remarks from Joey Preston, Bamberg County Administrator, Dr. Gerald Wright, Mayor of Denmark, Spencer Donaldson, Rev. Evert Comer Jr., and Sharon Hammond; members of the Bamberg County Council, Justin Bamberg, State Representative for House District 90, and Paul Eubanks, Bamberg County Fire Coordinator. Denmark Fire Chief, Charles Breland, opened the ceremony with a blessing over the grounds and Councilman Spencer Donaldson, who spearheaded the project, led the Pledge of Allegiance. County Treasurer Alice Johnson, Denmark City Councilman Calvin Odom, and former Bamberg County Councilman Joe Guess also addressed the crowd.
"We have been engaged in capital improvements for our Fire Service operations for the past several years with new equipment and fire apparatuses. This new fire substation is another step to improving overall emergency response times and providing excellent public safety services to every corner of Bamberg County," remarked Joey Preston. "Without the donation of land from Mr. Reeves and the collective efforts of county staff, elected officials, and many others, this station would not have been possible." Preston also stated, "A homeowner with a home valued at $125,000 will save approximately 27% annually on insurance costs; for this resident, it means his or her family will save $533 a year on their annual insurance premium."
Fire substations are vital to ensure the public safety for Bamberg County residents located more than five miles from a fire station. "The construction of a fire substation in this part of the county will improve the ISO - Insurance Service Office - rating for the county and the residents in the Holmans Bridge area," said Spencer Donaldson, Chairman of the Bamberg County Council. "The ISO rating will improve to a Class 6; the area is currently rated by the ISO as a Class 10, which essentially means unprotected. This will save residents on their insurance premiums as well as reduce response time in the area. Also, the vast majority of fire fighters in Bamberg County are volunteers. I appreciate that we can support their selfless efforts and donation of time in the service of others by providing modernized, safe equipment and facilities they can take pride in when on duty."
The Rev. Evert Comer Jr., a member of Bamberg County Council, commended the teamwork that led to the event, "I am proud to see the construction of a fire substation in the northeastern section of Bamberg County," stated Comer. "This fire substation will save lives and money for our citizens and I can't thank Chairman Spencer Donaldson for his leadership and advocacy for this community, many of whom felt forgotten. And we can't underscore enough our appreciation to Jody Reeves for his generous donation that will benefit his neighbors."
After the benediction from Reverend Comer, elected officials and citizens led by Chairman Spencer Donaldson, broke ground on the new Holmans Bridge Fire Substation. The groundbreaking ceremony comes on the heels of a series of improvements in the county's fire service. On Friday, October 21 at 10:30 a.m. the county will host a dedication service for the newest pumper truck at the Bamberg County Courthouse Annex, 1234 North Street, Bamberg.
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For more information on this press release, email info@bambergcounty.sc.gov.