The Saluda County Fire Service (SCFS) needs volunteer firefighters to help facilitate life-saving missions across their community.
SCFS, established in 2006, is a volunteer fire department reliant on the spare time of men and women who either have full-time jobs or have retired from previous ones.
“You’re not getting paid to do it. It’s in your blood. It’s something that you’ve got to want to do,” said Donnie Longshore, a Chief turned firefighter for Station 8.
The agency covers 457 square miles of farmland with the helping hand of 150 volunteers on the roster. Only 69 to 79 are routinely active. SCFS comprises of seven volunteer fire stations across the county. Anywhere from one to three volunteers are on standby during the daytime. Saluda’s Fire Service Coordinator tells WIS he needs 15 volunteers per station.