Sandy Branch Volunteer Fire Department

03/18/2026

https://sandybranchfd.org/from-the-chief/f/home-oxygen-thermal-fuses-save-lives

Supplemental Oxygen Use in the Home. What You and Your Family Should Know.

02/11/2026

New Tower 84 arriving at Sandy Branch Fire Volunteer Fire Department.

09/09/2025

08/11/2025

Sandy Branch Volunteer Fire Department achieves "Fire Safe SC" Status sixth year in a row (2019-2024)

The Sandy Branch Volunteer Fire Department has received recognition as a "Fire Safe SC" Fire Department for the sixth year in a row. We are the only fire department in McCormick County to receive this recognition. Statewide, only about 20% of the fire departments make the level of commitment needed to achieve this goal.

03/25/2025

Sandy Branch VFD Open House – Save The Date!!!

The annual Sandy Branch OPEN HOUSE that was postponed due to Hurricane Helene is set for Tuesday, April 15, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at SBVFD Station 1 (119 Holiday Road).

There will be hamburgers, hot dogs, trimmings, sides, and refreshments available for SLV residents and the surrounding Sandy Branch service district, served by the members at no cost to you (i.e. FREE).

Please mark this date on your calendar and come out and meet your firefighters and first responders. There will be fire truck rides for the kids/grandkids (and the young at heart). Also, free blood pressure checks by the first responders. Handout flyers regarding safety will be available for attendees to take home and review.

We wish to thank the residents of SLV and the entire Sandy Branch service district for your support.

03/02/2025

Sandy Branch Fire was called to a structure fire just outside SLV at 3:49 PM on 2/26/25. A mobile home and outbuilding were involved along with surrounding yard and woods.

Sandy Branch responded with 4 apparatus and a total of 13 personnel. Mutual aid was received from the following departments: Bethia, Little River, McCormick City, McCormick County, and Troy. McCormick County Sheriff and McCormick County EMS also responded as well as the Forestry Service. Little River Electric also responded to cut power to the home.

Suppression operations lasted for about 2 ½ hours before the fire was deemed under control and all units were released around 6:30 PM. There were no injuries to responding personnel. All residents of the home escaped without injury. Red Cross was contacted to provide assistance to the residents.

We at Sandy Branch Fire are grateful to all of those that responded to the call.

02/12/2025

Donation to injured Bethia fire fighter.

During hurricane Helene, one member of our local firefighter family was seriously injured.

A resident of McCormick County and a firefighter with the Bethia fire department, was struck by a tree that uprooted while he was clearing debris from a roadway in McCormick County.

He was initially paralyzed from the neck down, and the prognosis for recovery was bleak.

Upon hearing this, and considering the economic hardship he and his family would have to endure, the Sandy Branch Fire Department Chief and Board of Directors voted to donate all proceeds from the annual after Thanksgiving pancake breakfast, and supplementary funds to a total of $5000, to the family in order to help offset their medical costs.

Ricky has been in Atlanta at a care and rehab facility since the hurricane and just came home for the first time on February 8th. We asked if he could stop by the station so we could present him with the check, which we did.

I am happy to report that he is making progress but the road ahead will be long and arduous.

Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

01/17/2025

Special thanks to Abbeville County Fire Service for conducting our annual SCBA fit test Tuesday tonight at Station 1. Special thank you to Cold Spring Fire and Rescue Captain Austin Mullet for running the tests! Greatly appreciated!!

12/01/2024

Great day at the Sandy Branch annual pancake breakfast. We broke records by serving over 300 people. All proceeds from this event will go to Ricky, the Bethia firefighter that was struck by an uprooted tree during the relief efforts from hurricane Helene. Money raised will go to his wife and family for travel, lodging, and medical expenses. We want to thank the community for their attendance, generosity, and support. A job well done by all!!

11/18/2024

Great day at the McCormick County Library for the Kids Firefighter Fun Day. Special thanks to Donna England for coordinating the event and reading the kids a story. Lisa Rutland and Ralph Layton from Sandy Branch showed the kids their firefighting gear and taught them about fire safety. Mark Boerner and Ron Connor showed the kids the fire truck and equipment. Great time was had by all!!

11/13/2024

The Sandy Branch Volunteer Firefighters and First Responders are having their traditional after-Thanksgiving pancake breakfast on Saturday, November 30th, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at SBVFD Station 1 (119 Holiday Road). Pancakes will be served by the members along with sausage, orange juice, and regular or decaf coffee. All you can eat for just $5.00. Proceeds from the breakfast will be donated to the seriously injured firefighter from Bethia VFD who was helping to clear roads and highways during Hurricane Helene. The funds will be used to ease the financial burden on this man, his wife, and his family. Bethia VFD has been on scene at structure fires we have had in the SLV community. Please mark this date on your calendar. You won’t want to miss it! Come out and purchase a great breakfast and meet your firefighters and first responders. There will be fire truck rides for the kids/grandkids (and the young at heart).

We all Thank You for your support.

FYI — the SBVFD Open House has been rescheduled to take place in April 2025.