News Releases

A listing of recent news releases distributed to our media partners. If you are a member of the media and would like to be included on our media distribution list, please send an email from your organizational email account to pio@blufftonfd.com for consideration. Inclusion on the media distribution is at the sole discretion of the Public Information Officer.

Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters graphic Bluffton Township Fire District to Participate in Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters Event, May 1-5, 2024

Bluffton, SC (April 17, 2024) – Bluffton Township Fire District is proud to announce its participation in the upcoming Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters event, scheduled to take place from May 1st to May 5th, 2024. This event, organized by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, aims to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the foundation's establishment and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend.

 Read More
Air Paks Bluffton Township Fire District Upgrades SCBA Equipment to Enhance Firefighter Safety

Bluffton, SC (April 10, 2024) - Bluffton Township Fire District announces the acquisition of state-of-the-art Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) equipment, the Scott Air-Pak™ X3 Pro system, replacing equipment that was reaching the end of its service life. The equipment upgrade ensures ongoing compliance with the current National Fire Prevention Association guidelines. This significant investment underscores the district's commitment to enhancing firefighter safety and operational efficiency.

 Read More
Message from the Fire Chief picture Community input critical to Fire District success

Bluffton, SC (January 8, 2024, 10:30 a.m.) – The Bluffton Township Fire District is in the process of creating its next five-year strategic plan. The most recent plan is ending soon and without the support of our community, our recent and future successes could not be achieved.

To map out our next strategic plan, we are conducting a one-day, Community-Driven Stakeholder meeting on Monday, January 22, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Palmetto Electric Cooperative – New River campus (1 Cooperative Way, Hardeeville, SC 29927). The meeting will be held in their Community Room.

 Read More
Battalion Chief Rhett Livingston standing in front of a fire engine Battalion Chief celebrates 25 years of service and earns international professional designation

Bluffton, SC (October 20, 2023, 9:00 a.m. EDT) – Bluffton Township Fire District’s Battalion Chief, Rhett Livingston, has achieved an international designation capping off a 25-year career working in the fire services profession.

 Read More
Lieutenants standing in front of fire engine holding new helmets 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.

 Read More
Battalion Chiefs Derek Franks and Jayme Beach standing in front of fire engine Local EMTs recognized for 20 years of service

Bluffton, SC (September 20, 2023, 9:00 a.m. EDT) – Derek Franks and Jayme Beach, Battalion Chiefs with Bluffton Township Fire District, were recently recognized by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) for achieving 20 consecutive years of National Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Certification. This distinction is an honor held by few EMS professionals.

 Read More
Stoney Hill Loop House Fire Two weekend fires displace Pritchardville residents

Bluffton, SC (September 13, 2023, 9:00 a.m. EDT) – Over the weekend, firefighters from Bluffton Township Fire District responded to two separate house fires in the Pritchardville area. The first home suffered a total loss while the second sustained significant damage. No injuries were reported in either incident, but the fires have displaced the owners of both homes.

 Read More
Ashepoo Drive House Fire 3 Firefighters save Okatie home, several pets lost in fire

Okatie, SC (August 7, 2023, 12:00 p.m. EDT) – An early Sunday morning fire on Ashepoo Drive in the Rivers End subdivision, in Okatie, left two residents displaced and several pets lost. The fire broke out at approximately 3:30 a.m. The Fire District’s Senior Inspector determined the cause was an electrical outlet in the garage that ignited some materials stored next to it.

 Read More
Accident scene at Highway 278 and Buckwalter Parkway Highway 278 collision results in fatality

Bluffton, SC (August 7, 2023, 10:30 a.m. EDT) – A Sunday evening, multi-vehicle collision on Highway 278 at Buckwalter Parkway in Bluffton resulted in a loss of life. Multiple public safety agencies responded to the intersection just after 7:00 p.m.

 Read More
GFOA Award logo GFOA awards Bluffton Township Fire District its Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 12th Consecutive Year

Bluffton, SC (July 18, 2023, 9:30 a.m. EDT) - The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the Bluffton Township Fire District for its annual comprehensive financial report for the 2022 fiscal year.

 Read More
BTFD Logo Bluffton Pkwy & Buck Island Rd collision results in fatalities

Bluffton, SC (July 10, 2023, 2:30 p.m. EDT) – An early morning, two vehicle collision at the intersection of Buck Island Road and Bluffton Parkway in Bluffton resulted in a loss of life. Multiple public safety agencies responded to the location around 5:45 a.m. A nearby resident reported the incident from a cell phone and alerted dispatchers to a possible severe car crash in the area.

 Read More
Home and cars destroyed by fire Early morning fire displaces family in Bluffton subdivision

Bluffton, SC (June 14, 2023, 2:00 p.m.) – An early morning fire in the Cypress Ridge subdivision destroyed a home and displaced its residents. The fire broke out at approximately 3:30 a.m. and quickly spread through the home. Five individuals were home at the time but were able to get out before firefighters arrived. One adult female experienced respiratory distress because of smoke inhalation and was transported by ambulance to the hospital. She was treated and released later in the morning.

 Read More
Center for Public Safety Excellence logo Stephen Combs Completes International Professional Designation Process

Stephen Combs has successfully completed the process that awards the professional designation of “Public Information Officer” (PIO). The Commission on Professional Credentialing® (CPC®) met on June 6, 2023, to confer the designation. Combs becomes one of only twenty-nine PIOs worldwide.

Read More
Home destroyed by fire on Simmonsville Rd. Extension cord use sparks destructive electrical fire

Bluffton, SC (June 2, 2023, 10:30 a.m. EDT)  – A Bluffton home and home-based daycare on Simmonsville Road experienced significant damage on Thursday evening. Firefighters from six Bluffton Township Fire District stations responded to the home at approximately 5:45 p.m. When fire crews arrived, the rear right corner of the house was fully engulfed in flames. The owner was home at the time of the fire but was not inside the residence when the fire broke out.

 Read More
Home damaged by fire on Wentworth Dr. in Bluffton Cooking fires result in loss of two different homes in Bluffton area

Bluffton, SC (May 20, 2023, 2:07 p.m. EDT)  – Two homes in the Bluffton area were destroyed by fires that were a result of cooking incidents. The first fire occurred early Friday morning in the Woodbridge subdivision of Bluffton. The second house fire was located near Okatie Elementary School.

 Read More
Assistant Chief Corn and Chief Boulware pose for picture Bluffton Township Fire District promotes new Assistant Chief

Bluffton, SC (April 19, 2023, 9:30 a.m. EDT) – Adam Corn, a 17-year veteran of the Bluffton Township Fire District (BTFD), has been promoted from Captain to Assistant Chief of Operations. He will step into the position vacated by Derek Church, who was previously promoted to Deputy Chief of Administration.

 Read More
Fire Safe SC designation with years achieved Bluffton Township Fire District achieves fourth “Fire Safe SC Community” designation

Bluffton, SC (April 18, 2023, 9:00 a.m. EDT)  – For the fourth consecutive year, Bluffton Township Fire District has received a “Fire Safe South Carolina Community” designation for its commitment to reducing fire-related injuries and promoting consistent fire safety messaging. The Fire District will receive official recognition at this year’s Fire-Rescue Conference to be held in Myrtle Beach this coming June.

 Read More
Firefighters using pnuematic tools to cut open car May River High School Prom Promise

Bluffton, SC (April 18, 2023, 8:05 a.m. EDT) 

Bluffton area public safety agencies will conduct a simulated emergency response to a vehicle collision in support of May River High School’s annual Prom Promise event.

WHO: Bluffton Township Fire District, Bluffton Police Department, Beaufort County Emergency Medical Service, Beaufort County Coroner’s Office, Beaufort County School District, and May River High School

WHAT: May River High School Prom Promise

 Read More
Firefighters assess damage outside home struck by lightning Home struck by lightning in Berkeley Hall community saved by firefighters

Bluffton, SC (March 26, 2023, 1:00 p.m. EDT) – A lightning strike to the roof of a residence on Lancaster Boulevard in the Berkeley Hall community caused an attic fire on Saturday evening, March 26, 2023. Multiple fire stations from Bluffton Township Fire District (BTFD) were dispatched. Fire crews arrived at the home and observed smoke coming from the attic.

 Read More
Image of garage destroyed in fire on James O Ct. Bluffton Township Firefighters save home, detached garage a total loss

Bluffton, SC (March 7, 2023, 11:20 a.m. EST)  – Firefighters from Bluffton Township Fire District (BTFD) quickly extinguished a fire in a detached garage on James O Court in Bluffton before flames could cause serious damage to a nearby residence. Crews from several BTFD stations responded to the early morning fire that began while the resident was working in the garage. The fire grew quickly requiring the occupant to flee from the structure and call 911.

 Read More
  • Printer-friendly version