Country Cooking: The Recipe for an Effective Rural Fire Department
John R. Smith
Saturday, June 15, 2024
1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
While small departments and volunteers account for the majority of the South Carolina Fire Service, Rural Volunteer Fire Departments are some of the least covered and networked. In areas where call volumes are low, but risks are high, it’s important to maintain an interest and passion in the fire service, to keep your members trained and prepared to answer the call of duty at any time and perform with what you have on hand. Using experience in a small-town fire department, this instructor will guide you through some of the challenges faced such as managing volunteers, recruitment, and retention, and maintaining a passion in the department when call volumes are low. This class is perfect for any member of the fire service from volunteer to career, probie to Chief.
John R. Smith
John Smith is the Volunteer Assistant Chief of Dillon County Fire Department Station 3 where he has served since 2013 in various positions including as the Chief and as a career Engineer/Paramedic. His house currently serves their community with 18 volunteers and 4 career engineers. John began his career in the fire service as a volunteer, serving the community of Lake View in Dillon County. Since his career began, he has held many positions in public safety, including current President of the Pee Dee Firefighter’s Association, DHEC CEP, Instructor, Supervisor/Training Officer at Marion County EMS, SC Fire Academy Instructor, and volunteer with Mullins Fire Department. John is passionate about the culture of the fire service and the rural fire department’s place in it, as well as the role the volunteers play in serving these communities.
