St. John’s Fire District In Charleston County Seeks $24M for Upgrades
The St. John’s Fire District in Charleston County, South Carolina, is seeking approval for a substantial $24 million funding from Charleston County to upgrade their fire stations and equipment. As the Island continues to grow, so does the demand for emergency services, leading to an increase in needs for more fire trucks, state-of-the-art fire equipment, and enhanced fire station facilities.
“We have seen a noticeable increase in calls,” reports Fire District Chief Ryan Kunitzer. “With our suburban population rising significantly and with our Seabreeze Islands such as Kiawah and Seabrook drawing in more visitors, we are kept busy throughout the week.”
Increasing Calls, Growing Needs
In the past eight years, St. John’s Fire District reports an increase in emergency calls from 3,000 to now over 4,000, primarily due to rapid development experienced on the Sea Islands. To keep up with these requirements, Chief Kunitzer is requesting Charleston County leaders approve a considerable sum of $24 million.
County councilmember Joe Boykin believes the requested funds will greatly enhance emergency response resources – entailing the construction of fire stations, development of dedicated training facilities, and upgrading existing stations – serving residents in the expanding island community. According to Boykin, one of the most significant challenges at present is the emerging issue of traffic congestion on the islands.
“Currently, there are no hospitals here,” shares Boykin. “Therefore, getting our fire department units on site and stabilizing those in need until EMS arrives is critically essential. The current challenge is ensuring our public safety infrastructures keep pace with the area’s growth.”
Growth Demanding Action
As Chief Kunitzer asserts, with the island’s growth, the fire department is also necessitated to expand. He said the additional funding would provide much needed equipment for fire protection and safety. Along with these, the proposal also emphasizes investing in fire fighting careers and retaining firefighters within the district. Plans for replacement of outdated fire stations are projected for this year and the subsequent year of 2025.
While the proposition is still under consideration, the district’s plea reinforces a growing concern to invest in public safety in line with rapid urbanization, ensuring adequate resources are available to meet increasing needs. The decision on the proposed funding now rests in the hands of Charleston County Council.
