Georgetown County is proud to have received an Honorable Mention in the 2024 J. Mitchell Graham Memorial Awards Competition. Presented by the South Carolina Association of Counties, the award recognizes counties that address community challenges, implement operational improvements or enhance their residents’ quality of life in a unique way.
Georgetown County was recognized for development of a new firefighter ability test, which replaced an outdated test and is better able to get an accurate gauge of a firefighters ability to perform their job duties. Development of the new test was undertaken by the Safety Committee at Midway Fire Rescue. All current firefighters are required to complete the test twice per year in conjunction with an annual fire department medical physical and health screening.
The new test consists of 11 structural fire event-related tasks that include everything from arriving on the scene, pulling the attack line, forcing a locked door, entering the structure, climbing stairs with equipment, hoisting equipment with a rope, crawling along the floor, performing overhead work, pushing and pulling weighted items, raising a ladder and walking. All of this is completed while wearing full structural turnout equipment and utilizing a SCBA breathing air unit. An allotted time for completion is required, and air consumption rates are maintained for future trending purposes. It has been found all across the country that sharing these trends with the fire department physician may lead to early illness detection.
Pictured from left are: County Council Members Louis Morant and Clint Elliott, SCAC President Bill Robinson, Battalion Chief Pete Copeland of Midway's Safety Committee, and Georgetown County Emergency Services Director Brandon Ellis.