In many areas, the temperature out there right now is the warmest it'll be all day! Expect temperatures to become much colder, and brisk winds to develop. With the ground wet following yesterday's rainfall, the wind will easily knock over a few trees, which may cause some power outages. Temps tonight will be the coldest yet this season, and bitterly cold wind chills will be felt across the NC Mountains. But wait, there's more! Snow showers in some of the mountains will contribute to slippery road conditions. Roads that are wet now may freeze over later this morning, and remain icy into Monday morning. Bundle up and drive carefully!
A tragic reminder from Bluffton, SC this morning about the potential deadly dangers home fires present. Please make sure your home has working smoke detectors and that everyone in the home is trained in an exit plan. If you need help with checking or getting a smoke detector in your home, please call our office at (864) 638-4220. A member of #teamoconee will be more than happy to help.
www.islandpacket.com/news/local/article224668590.html
2 people killed in Bluffton mobile home fire early Thursday. 4 others injured, officials say
islandpacket.com
Twp people are dead after a mobile home fire in the Shady Glen neighborhood in Bluffton SC injured at least four other residents early Thursday, officials said. Two were airlifted to a hospital.Thank you to Taylors Tins for the new swag for our team members. They look great and the guys love them!
Help Wanted!
Odd Hours
No Pay
Cool Hat
SC Firefighter Recruitment and Retention
South Carolina's volunteer fire departments are looking for YOU to make a difference. Find opportunities near you today at firedept.link/scvolunteerfire -- free training, a new second family & more.
A advisory from the City of Westminster.
DATE: 1/16/2019
The City of Westminster public works advises all residents within ...
South Carolina's volunteer fire departments are looking for YOU to make a difference. Find opportunities near you today at firedept.link/scvolunteerfire -- free training, a new second family & more.
Structure Fire - Dr. Johns Road, Westminster, SC
At 9:03 am, our dispatch center received 911 calls reporting a house on fire in the 1400 block of Dr. John’s Rd. Crews arrived to find the heavy smoke coming from the eaves and roof of the home. A quick attack of the fire was initiated with additional personnel performing a search for occupants. As the fire was brought under control, an adult male was located by firefighters in the rear bedroom of the home. He was removed and resuscitation efforts initiated. Care was transferred to EMS and the patient was transported to Oconee Memorial Hospital. His condition is currently not known.
Crews remain on scene checking the home for any hotspots or extension of fire into void spaces. Our fire investigations team is being supported by the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and the SC Law Enforcement Division (SLED is supporting due to the fire causing significant injury
to the occupant). We expect crews to be on scene throughout the afternoon.
Units Responding-
Westminster Fire
Oakway Fire
Seneca Fire
Westminster Rescue
GHS-Oconee EMS
Oconee Sheriff’s Office
Oconee Emergency Services
I have an update. Eddie’s in ICU, but he’s doing fine. He didn’t suffer any burns, and his only injury was smoke inhalation. He was unconscious when the firefighters took him out the window, and it took most of the day for him to really begin to understand what happened. He’s himself again now, and I don’t think he’ll be in here very long. If he hadn’t closed the door when he went to lie down, he wouldn’t have had a chance. The SLED investigators are sure it started near the stove, but it wasn’t left on. We appreciate all the prayers, good wishes, and calls. I haven’t been able to answer all the texts and voicemails yet, because I’ve been pretty busy with insurance calls,etc. Maybe everyone will see this and know Eddie’s fine. I went to the dentist and stopped by Ingles. I was gone about an hour and a half. It doesn’t take long for something to happen that will change your life forever. Houses can be replaced, but Eddie can’t. Those of you who know him know he’s one of a kind. We’re fine. This is a bump in the road. Thanks y’all.
#manycoatsoneteam
PRAYERS FOR YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND GAIL..SO SORRY TO HEAR THIS..
Lolly Lynn Thurmond
Praying
Hey Gail I'm praying for you all love you, crazy paulette
Thanks to you all good job
A lot of fun memories in that house!
Thank you all for a great job y'all did praying for the man and his family
PRAYERS EDDIE AND GAIL COBB GOD WILL SEE YOU THROUGH
Who's house is this
Corey Griffin
2019 Fire Service Improvement Conference - GREENVILLE, SC Thank you to the members of #teamoconee for spending their weekend to make themselves, their departments and our SC Fire Service better. @scfirefighters
Each year in Oconee, volunteers answer more than 6000 calls for service including fires, medical emergencies, wilderness searches and hazardous materials releases. In order to keep this 50 year tradition of volunteerism alive, we need your help. Are you willing to help your neighbor? Visit scvolunteerfire.org or call (864) 6384220. Answer the sounds of sirens and become a volunteer today.
John Gorman that's awesome to help but sad it didn't end well
I'm willing to help with wilderness searches only. Only because I know the back country of Oconee County like few others. In fact I helped find that missing hunter on the Georgia side of Hwy 28 last Summer. 6 miles off trail in the Burrells Ford forest. Sadly that one did not end well.
Thank you to each person who are volunteers !!
Wished I lived closer so I could be a part of this great team
I wish i was physically able. Wish you had a team to ladies or men that just did support such as be you "go fers" or cook and bring food when you are out for the night or extended rescue. I can throw a meal or biscuit or sandwich in large sums quickly and clean up. Just a thought.
A tip of the helmet today and everyday to the law enforcement officers who put it all on the line to keep our families and communities safe. We appreciate your dedication to service more than we can ever say in words. Stay safe friends!
#NationalLawEnforcementAppreciationDay
Try on some new boots in 2019! Volunteers are needed throughout Oconee.
SC Firefighter Recruitment and Retention
SC's volunteer fire departments are looking to fill many roles - there's one waiting for you. Learn more at firedept.link/fireboots
Nathan Webb
Will there be another paid opportunity coming up in Oconee county EMS?
If the mud in your yard is beginning to dry out, not worries. Rain, and lots of it, is on the way. Please keep an eye on the weather over the next 48 hours as significant impacts to our area are expected.Heavy rainfall is still on track Thursday through Friday across the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia. Flooding is possible and windy conditions will also affect the higher elevations of the North Carolina mountains. Follow the latest forecasts at weather.gov/gsp.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from your Oconee County Fire & Rescue Team!
Merry Christmas Oconee county
Merry Christmas guys. Thanks for all you do all year long
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas from the Nix’s family
Merry Christmas!
Thank you all and Merry Christmas.
I would say Merry Christmas and thank you guys for being away from your family on this holiday season wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year
Merry Christmas & Many Blessings
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to you all
Merry Christmas to You All and many Thanks for All You do.
Merry Christmas to you all🎄🎁🎄
For our responders- In the blink of an eye, everything can change. Always question yourself, “have I done everything to protect our team”?Three of our firefighters were injured overnight when a car crashed into Engine-6 as they were outside assisting an auto accident on the 408. The driver of car was transported to ORMC as a trauma alert. We are grateful that our firefighters injuries are non-life threatening and wish them all a speedy recovery. Please keep them all in your thoughts.
To understand how this could have resulted in greater loss, OFD's standard operating procedure provides for one of the Engines or Towers responding to the scene on high-speed roadways, to park diagonally in the road to protect the first responders working the incident ahead of the parked apparatus. This safety practice saved many personnel, OFD and OPD, from much greater danger and injury by creating a 20-ton roadblock.
Glad the fireman are okay. Prayers for the injured driver. Save a life! move over people!
Mike Dempsey
Prayers
Prayers for all involved.
Why rapid intervention training on a Saturday? In the rain? Because firefighters are worth saving! While the occasion is rare, the inherent dangers of structural firefighting cause us to be ready to care for one of our own. It is important that team members are trained, equipped and ready for any situation.
Thank you to each student and instructor for giving up your weekend to make our team stronger!
Everyone looks like they are sooooo excited with their MRE
Show em how to make heater bombs?
Ever thought about how the water is supplied to fight a fire? Most fire engines across our county carry 1000 gallons of water to fight a fire. Many times, more than that is needed to control and extinguish the flame. When more is needed our team has two choices; haul it via water tankers from remote sources or connect hose to nearby hydrants to supply the engines. In the video, an engine is laying its supply line forward to prepare to supplied from a local hydrant. While this was only for training, “dropping a line” is a common tactic used in fire suppression.
Always fun reloading. LOL
I hated it when the plugs were so far away. Especially when you have to roll back up the entire truck of supply line. LoL..... Gotta love it.
Portable water main!
Very educational!
1 gal every foot.
Have fun picking all that 5 inc up
Good job to A-shift and daytime team members for jumping on and knocking out several thousand feet of supply line in annual testing today!
As of 6:05 this morning, Blue Ridge Electric had 4,396 members without power. Fresh crews from Aiken, Berkeley,Black River, and Mid-Carolina Electric have arrived and have joined those already in the field working to address the remaining outages. The crews are equipped to work in the current rainy conditions and will work to make progress in clearing up the the remaining outages on the Blue Ridge system. Call 888-BLUERIDGE or use the mobile app to report your outage. We appreciate your continued patience as we work through some heavy storm damage.
Good job to everyone who has worked hard since Thursday to both prepare for and respond to #winterstormdiego. The last 18 hours have been especially cold, wet and tiresome.
Thank you for all the time, effort, and everything else you do for all of us to stay safe!
Thank you guys for everything you do
All of you, no matter what your job, behind the scenes or front lines, YOU'RE AWESOME!
thankfully I had two days off so i slept
