New county fire training center could help volunteer departments

York County Fire Marshal Billy Weatherford remembers a time — not too long ago — when the training required to be a volunteer firefighter was more of a luxury than a necessity.

“It wasn’t required — it was nice to have.”

But today’s volunteer firefighters must undergo a minimum of 200 hours of training before they’re allowed to answer their first call.

That requirement, Weatherford said, is one reason he’s pleased to see construction getting underway on a new $5.8 million fire training center for York County.

The site, set to be built on 16 acres of land east of York, will house administrative facilities, a shop and training tower.

The new shop, with five bays compared to the current two, will mean maintenance on the 100-plus fire apparatus will be faster; and more of that equipment will be stored in fire houses where it’s needed versus waiting to be repaired.

Plans for the center include three classrooms, as opposed to the one room available now, will allow for more classes and continuing education to be held on-site instead of at the S.C. Fire Academy in Columbia.

“In the past, you had to go to Columbia for training. We can bring those classes here now,” Weatherford said. “On a Saturday I don’t have to get up and drive an hour to Columbia for class, I can drive here, get out of class at  5 and be home by 5:15. I can still have some family time.”

Local dignitaries and fire officials held a ceremonial ground breaking at the site Friday, where attendees dodged clay mud bogs and speakers made their remarks over the roar of backhoes and Bobcats.

Over the decades, volunteer fire departments like those in York County have faced a challenge finding new recruits to fill the shoes of veterans who’ve spend most of their adult lives hanging around the fire house.

Changes in work habits, family lives and the legal requirements to be a firefighter have hall been working against those new faces.

But Weatherford, a retired Rock Hill firefighter who spent 30 years working for the city, and now in his second year overseeing the county’s fire operations, thinks the new fire training could be a big help.

“It’s the room we’ve desperately needed,” Weatherford said.”This just makes it so much easier to keep the hometown guys at home.”