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Fire Department - General Information |
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City of Newberry Fire Department Keith Minick, Chief 1041 Wilson Road - P.O. Box 538 Newberry, SC 29108 Phone: (803) 321-1030 The Newberry Fire Department is a combination paid and volunteer service. Currently, the department is staffed by 20 paid and more than 25 volunteer members. Eighteen of the paid personnel work shifts of 24 hours with 48 hours off-duty between shifts. This provides (6) six persons available for operating fire service needs around the clock. The volunteer members supplement all activities of the paid, resulting in big savings for taxpayers. |
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The City of Newberry Fire Department is actively involved in the
communities they serve. Firefighters give tours of the fire stations
and teach students about fire prevention and speakers are available to
conduct fire safety seminars for local schools and community groups.
Last year, The Department placed fire truck reading centers into each
elementary school within the city limits and the public library,
furthering the education of fire safety and prevention.
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National Organizations
Professional Organizations
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Personnel
are trained in interior structural firefighting, confined spaces
rescue, hazardous materials incident mitigation, and fire prevention
and inspection.
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The Newberry Fire Department was formed in 1873 after Newberry experienced a devastating fire.
 The
fire department was originally located in the lower level of the
Newberry Opera House. Joe the fire horse held many titles and won many
races. He was at one time the fifth fastest firehorse in the nation and
first in the state.
The Fire
Department is able to boast many firsts for the fire service, one of
which is one of the first black firefighters in the state: Malcolm
Lessene.
Notification of the
firefighters as to the presence of an alarm at one time was an
elaborate system of bells driven by a Gamewell pull box system at
locations across town. These bells were in the firemen's homes, at the
fire department, and even in the bell tower of the Newberry Opera House.
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