Sales Tax Helps Seven SC Departments Get Tankers

Feb. 13, 2022

Seven Aiken County fire departments that protect communities without hydrants are slated to receive tankers funded by a capital project sales tax.

By Alexandra Koch

Source Aiken Standard, S.C.

The first three tankers funded by a sales tax were received by Hollow Creek, Salley and Windsor fire departments.

Feb. 12—Three rural volunteer fire departments in Aiken County received new T-Style tanker trucks at the beginning of the year, allowing firefighters to better protect citizens who are not served by public water systems.

A total of seven volunteer fire departments were chosen by County Council to receive the tanker trucks. They are Eureka, Silver Bluff, New Holland, Hollow Creek, Windsor, Monetta and Salley.

Three of the trucks are already in service; Windsor, Salley and Hollow Creek volunteer fire departments unveiled their new tankers Friday morning in front of the Aiken County Government Center.

"We were thankful to be able to receive something like this because it's not something we can afford," said Salley Fire Department Chief Gene Fogle.

Fogle said on almost every call, his crew has to drive the tanker back to get more water when it runs out and the new tanker will double their capacity.

"Most likely, all three of these trucks will be on the same scene," said Brady Baughman, a Salley firefighter. "If it weren't for the help of each other, we wouldn't have any water."

The new tankers hold 3,000 gallons of water, which is crucial to volunteer fire departments that do not have access to fire hydrants.

"It gives us another 3,000 gallons of water immediately," said Windsor Fire Department Chief John Schander. "When we get a fire out in our districts, we don't have any hydrants — we rely on our tankers."

The purchase was funded through Capital Project Sales Tax IV, and was approved by voters in November 2018. Included in the county's share of the proceeds was $1.55 million for the purchase of tanker trucks which cost $240,000 each from Safe Industries in Easley.

"These new units will significantly enhance the fire protection services in the rural parts of the county and the Aiken County Council looks forward to receipt of the additional four units later this year," said Aiken County Administrator Clay Killian.

Gary Bunker, Aiken County Council chairman, said it was his first time seeing the new trucks Friday afternoon.

"I've only seen them in pictures," he said. "It's very impressive when you see them for real."

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