By Betsy Finklea
The City of Dillon Fire Department will celebrate 100 years of service to the community with an open house at the W.B. Carmichael Fire Station on Sunday, October 6th.
The open house will be held from 2-4 p.m., and the public is invited. Cake and ice cream will be served. Sparky, the fire dog, will make an appearance. The city’s new fire truck will be on display.
A commemorative photo will be made at 3 p.m. All current firemen and retirees are asked to attend.
In the past 100 years, 19 fire chiefs have served the City of Dillon. Dillon’s first fire chief was Samuel A. Blackwell, who served from 1913-1918. Other chiefs who served include the following: Carl Medlin (1919-1923), C.L. Carmichael (1923-1927), B.B. Gaddy (1927-1928), J.C. Wood (1928-1947), M.E. Carmichael (1948-1949), C.W. Pate (1949-1958), Marion Reaves (1959-1962), J.P. Edgerton (1962-1968), Earl Gaddy (1969-1979, 1985, 1988-1990), W.J. King (1980-1984), Joe Johnson (1986-1987), Owen Wallace (1991-1992, 1996-1997), Billy Wayne Caines (1993-1995), Gary Bethea (1998-1999), J.W. Bailey (2000-2001), Michael Goodwin (2000-2004), and Keith Bailey (2005-present).
The W.B. Carmichael Fire Station, located at 209 S. 8th Avenue, was built in 1978. It is manned 24/7. The O.L. Wallace Fire Station, a substation located on West Main Street, was built in 1998. It is manned for eight hours everyday. In 2002, Dillon purchased its first ladder truck.
The fire department is currently led by Chief Keith Bailey. There are 31 members—four full-time and 27 volunteers. The fire department is equipped with three engines and one ladder truck including the new 2013 International Chassis Fire Truck (E-1 Body), which was recently purchased in Ocala, Florida.
The fire department has many responsibilities including responding to fires in the city as well as alarms, gas and chemical leaks, bomb threats, etc. They also provide mutual aid to other fire services. The department goes out to schools and daycares to provide fire prevention education to local children. The department is a member of the South Carolina Firemen’s Association.
