Concerns raised about Hampton County Fire Department during heated council meeting

HAMPTON COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - Community members and firefighters raised concerns about leadership, morale and the future of the Hampton County Fire Department during a specially called county council meeting this week.

Several residents from across Hampton County, including municipal leaders, spoke during the meeting, questioning leadership within the department and the treatment of volunteer firefighters who serve the county.

Scotia Mayor Jennifer Rushing described what she called declining morale among volunteers, saying some firefighters who once enjoyed serving their communities are now discouraged.

Rushing also expressed concern that, without changes, volunteer firefighters could step away from service.

Other speakers at the meeting raised concerns about transparency in hiring decisions and called for the creation of a fire board to provide additional oversight of county fire operations.

One speaker, who said he helped build the Hampton County Fire Department, addressed rumors that the department could shut down, saying he was frustrated by the uncertainty.

A former volunteer firefighter and EMS worker with more than 40 years of experience said conditions within the department have deteriorated.

“I’ve never seen volunteers treated the way they are being treated,” he said during the meeting. “Not just by the new fire chief, but by Hampton Regional as well.”

The chief of the Town of Hampton Fire Department also voiced concerns about decisions made by the county’s new fire chief, saying they have negatively affected his department’s operations.

Hampton County Councilman Darin Williams said he wants answers from fire department leadership, calling the situation serious and urging cooperation between the county and municipalities.

“I think this is something we should not take for granted,” Williams said. “I’m not choosing sides in the matter because I do not know the whole story, but I do know this much — it’s worth us as a council coming together, having a meeting, even with the municipalities, to get to the bottom of what’s going on. This county cannot afford to lose the trust or the dedication of these firefighters.”

Councilmember Jordan Jinks also requested the issue be added to a future agenda, saying there is still much the council does not know about the situation.

The county has not yet publicly responded to the concerns raised during the meeting.