Bluffton Township Fire District promotes four firefighters to Lieutenant

Bluffton, SC (October 18, 2023, 2:30 p.m. EDT) – For the first time in its nearly 50-year history, Bluffton Township Fire District simultaneously promoted four firefighters to the position of Lieutenant during the October monthly Fire District Board meeting. The vacancies filled by these new company officers were the result of previous internal promotions that left temporary voids at the station level.

Firefighters Andrew Hatcher, Tyler Marion, Duke Novak, and Carson Stone were each pinned with their new badges and collar brass by family members as friends and coworkers looked on. Each of the new fire officers have been with the District for a decade or more and have worked their way up through the ranks. As these officers move into their new roles, they will provide crew management, engine company-level training, and incident management as first-arriving units to all-hazard emergency calls.

Fire Chief, Paul Boulware, who presented the promotions last night, said, “These men have worked hard to reach this point in their careers. Their commitment to serving the community is evident in the way they respond to calls for service and how they interact with our citizens each day.” He continued, “I’m proud of each of them and know they will provide invaluable leadership to our line crews.”

Hatcher and Stone began their careers with the Fire District in April 2013 while Novak and Marion joined the organization nine months later, in January 2014. The Lieutenants have been assigned to their respective shifts and stations, already playing a key role in the daily operations of the Fire District.