Anderson County Fallen Firefighters Memorial

05/14/2026

We are grateful to The South Carolina Forestry Commission for awarding Whitefield Volunteer Fire Department a Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) 50/50 matching grant.

Through this program, Whitefield recently purchased seven handheld two-way radios to enhance firefighter safety and strengthen emergency communications in the wildland-urban interface.

These radios will support both local emergency response operations and statewide firefighter mobilization efforts during large-scale incidents, including deployments such as the recent Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge fires.

05/14/2026

05/14/2026

May 14, 2004 - LODD
Firefighter Michael Stokes Martin, 18
Ebenezer Volunteer Fire Department. Belton, South Carolina
Firefighter Martin was responding to an EMS incident in his personal vehicle, a 2004 Ford pickup truck. As Firefighter Martin responded to the incident, the right wheels of the vehicle left the roadway. The vehicle came back onto the roadway and then left the roadway again on the left side, struck a culvert, and came to rest against a tree. Firefighter Martin was pronounced dead at the scene. Firefighter Martin was not wearing a seat belt, although an air bag was deployed as a result of the crash. The law enforcement crash report stated that the speed of the vehicle prior to the crash was 65 miles per hour in a 45 miles-per-hour zone.

04/16/2026

From The South Carolina Forestry Commission: SC Forestry Commission to issue statewide burning ban; restriction on all outdoor burning goes into effect at 7 a.m. Friday

COLUMBIA—The South Carolina Forestry Commission is issuing a State Forester’s Burning Ban for all counties, effective at 7 a.m. Friday, April 17.

A State Forester’s Burning Ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of the state.

Forestry Commission officials cite a particularly dangerous mix of elevated wildfire risk factors through the weekend that warrant limiting all ignitions in the interest of public safety.

Rapidly escalating drought conditions across the state, a critical decrease in relative humidities over the next several days and gusty winds that are expected to accompany an approaching cold front will combine to create extreme fire danger.

"When it’s this dry – energy release component values are at high-to-critical levels – we’re just as likely, if not more, to see wildfires that are fuel-driven rather than wind-driven. Add the other volatile conditions of increased wind and lower relative humidity, and it becomes an especially precarious situation,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. "These conditions not only increase the likelihood of wildfires igniting easily and spreading rapidly, but would also make them more difficult for firefighters to control.”

While the ban does not apply to fires used for the preparation of food or fires used in appropriate enclosures (portable outdoor fireplaces, chimineas or permanent fire pits constructed of stone, masonry, metal or other noncombustible material that conforms with all applicable South Carolina fire codes), Forestry Commission officials urge the utmost caution burning outdoors under these exemptions.

Likewise, citizens should exercise extreme vigilance operating any equipment that could create sparks, avoid parking on dry grass and refrain from using fireworks.

The ban will stay in effect until further notice, which will come in the form of an official announcement from the Forestry Commission.

Shareable release:

04/16/2026

SC Forestry Commission to issue statewide burning ban; restriction on all outdoor burning goes into effect at 7 a.m. Friday

COLUMBIA—The South Carolina Forestry Commission is issuing a State Forester’s Burning Ban for all counties, effective at 7 a.m. Friday, April 17.

A State Forester’s Burning Ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of the state.

Forestry Commission officials cite a particularly dangerous mix of elevated wildfire risk factors through the weekend that warrant limiting all ignitions in the interest of public safety.

Rapidly escalating drought conditions across the state, a critical decrease in relative humidities over the next several days and gusty winds that are expected to accompany an approaching cold front will combine to create extreme fire danger.

"When it’s this dry – energy release component values are at high-to-critical levels – we’re just as likely, if not more, to see wildfires that are fuel-driven rather than wind-driven. Add the other volatile conditions of increased wind and lower relative humidity, and it becomes an especially precarious situation,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. "These conditions not only increase the likelihood of wildfires igniting easily and spreading rapidly, but would also make them more difficult for firefighters to control.”

While the ban does not apply to fires used for the preparation of food or fires used in appropriate enclosures (portable outdoor fireplaces, chimineas or permanent fire pits constructed of stone, masonry, metal or other noncombustible material that conforms with all applicable South Carolina fire codes), Forestry Commission officials urge the utmost caution burning outdoors under these exemptions.

Likewise, citizens should exercise extreme vigilance operating any equipment that could create sparks, avoid parking on dry grass and refrain from using fireworks.

The ban will stay in effect until further notice, which will come in the form of an official announcement from the Forestry Commission.

Shareable release:https://www.scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Advisory-StateForestersBurningBan-20260416.pdf

04/15/2026

The big night is almost here 💃🕺

Heather & Steve Thompson are ready to take the stage at Dancing for Our Heroes this Thursday, April 16 from 6–10 PM at the Anderson Civic Center.

Join us for an incredible evening supporting 14 local charities across Anderson County.

Can’t make it or want to show extra support? Help Heather & Steve compete for the People’s Choice Award by making a final donation to support the Cancer Association of Anderson:

https://bit.ly/4moXwKg

04/15/2026

04/13/2026

Did you know . . . aluminum recycling has funded Camp 'Can' Do since 1997??
IT'S SO EASY to recycle aluminum for a good cause! We have collection trailers all over South Carolina. Find your closest SCBCF aluminum trailer here: https://www.scbcf.org/find-a-recycle-trailer-near-you

South Carolina State Firefighters' Association