NEW FIRE STATION OPENS TO ADDRESS GARLINGTON ROAD CLOSING

BOILING SPRINGS FIRE DISTRICT ADDS FACILITY TO ELIMINATE SERVICE DISRUPTION

(March 16, 2006 / Greenville, SC) To prepare for Monday’s Garlington Road closing at Rocky Creek Bridge, Boiling Springs Fire District officials dedicated a temporary station at a 10:00 a.m. news conference and ribbon cutting ceremony this morning.

The additional facility, to serve areas affected by the road closure that will last a forecasted eight to twelve months, is the result of more than a year of planning and discussions with the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

Knowing that bridge repairs would temporarily sever a crucial infrastructure artery between Boiling Springs fire personnel and the residential and commercial interests they protect, Boiling Springs commissioners created a taskforce led by Chief Gerald Luker to address the issue and formulate a solution to a problem that would have increased emergency response times to nearly double-digit minutes.

That solution is the district’s Station 4 located at 1102 Garlington Road near the entrance of Hartness International.

“The area’s repairs will be welcome changes for our engineers and response personnel forced to maneuver equipment along that treacherous stretch of narrow road, substandard bridge, and dangerous curve,” said Boiling Springs’ new chairman Rick Williams of the road that has been the site of several fatal and near fatal accidents.

Chief Luker said that while the road with its 25 mile per hour speed limit must be redesigned and repaired, the district was not willing to sacrifice safety during the year-long construction process.

“Our current response time from our Pelham Road station and headquarters is currently two to three minutes. We were not about to let response times more than double and place people and property in harm’s way. Station 4 allows us to continue providing the county’s most highly rated fire protection,” Luker said.

Williams agreed. “Our personnel worked hard for several years to achieve the ISO Class 1 rating we maintain. We want everyone in the district to see that we remain committed to their safety and hope that this measure demonstrates a renewal of that commitment.”

High resolution still photos of the news conference and Mr. Williams’ remarks are available by request. Call Taft Matney at 864/505-8866.

About the Boiling Springs Fire District

Established in 1968 and located on Greenville County’s Eastside, the Boiling Springs Fire District covers 15 square miles and serves over 26,000 residents. Governed by five commissioners recommended by county council and appointed by the governor, the Boiling Springs Fire District is a special purpose district responsible for addressing specific concerns and local issues among commercial and residential interests through 40 paid personnel and 20 volunteers operating out of 4 fire stations. The district’s equipment battery includes 8 fire engines, 2 aerial ladder trucks, and a rescue vehicle. The Boiling Springs Fire District is South Carolina’s only ISO Class 1 fire department with a combination of paid and volunteer fire fighters.

To make inquiries regarding this release, please contact Taft Matney by phone (864/505-8866), by fax (864/297-3871), or by e-mail (taft@taftmatney.com).

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