FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
To: News Media
From: Bamberg County Administration
Date: July 28, 2024
Re: UPDATE: Construction of Holmans Bridge Fire Substation Set to be Completed by September 2024
Bamberg, South Carolina (July 2024) –Nearly two years after its groundbreaking ceremony, the Holmans Bridge Fire Substation is nearly completed. On Friday, July 26, Bamberg County Councilman Spencer Donaldson, Deputy Administrator Thomas Thomas, Operations Manager Bill Johnson, Assistant to the Administrator John Perry, Fire Coordinator Paul Eubanks, and Firefighter Jonathan Eubanks toured the construction site and assessed the substation progress. Bill Dennis of Lake Moultrie Construction was on site to answer questions.
The property was generously donated by Jody Reeves to Bamberg County in 2021. The new state-of-the-art substation, located at 15200 Char-Augusta Rd., will be strategically located in the northeastern section of Bamberg County, which includes the communities of Holmans Bridge, Sweden, Finland, and Jamisonville. Holmans Bridge Fire Substation will also serve Denmark Country Club, Sandifer Farms, and Mount Zion Church areas. Currently, the substation sits at a 90% completion rate: the rollup doors, store-front, wiring, and framing have been installed, while the drywall, HVAC, well, and septic tank are on schedule to be installed by the estimated completion date of August 31, 2024.
Bamberg County Fire Coordinator Paul Eubanks said, “This project has been heavily on my mind for over twenty years. The new station will extend fire protection to the area where many of my family members live. I want to thank Jody Reeves and the Bamberg County Council and Administrator for finally making this possible.”
District 4 Councilman Spenser Donaldson, who spearheaded this project, stated:
The construction of a fire substation in this part of the county will improve the Insurance Service Office (ISO) rating for the county and the residents in the Holmans Bridge area. 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 and reduce response time in the area. Also, the vast majority of firefighters 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.
Bamberg County Chairman Evert Comer, Jr. thanked Councilman Donaldson for his leadership on the project, noting, "I am proud to see the construction of a fire substation in the northeastern section of Bamberg County.”
According to County Administrator Joey Preston:
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. 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. A homeowner with a home valued at $125,000 will save approximately 27% annually on insurance costs, which is roughly $533 a year.
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For more information on this press release, email info@bambergcounty.sc.gov.