Our Commitment to Readiness
What the Training Division Does
The mission of the Bluffton Township Fire District’s Training Division is to continuously strengthen the knowledge, skills, and abilities of all department personnel through structured, progressive, and relevant programs.
The division is organized into two distinct areas of focus: Operations Training and Medical Services. Together, they ensure BTFD personnel are prepared to perform at the highest level, on the fireground and in the field.
OPERATIONS TRAINING
The Operations Training branch oversees all fire suppression, rescue, and safety training for BTFD personnel. This includes live-fire evolutions, multi-company drills, hazardous materials training, driver/operator certification, and officer development programs.
A core responsibility of this branch is operational safety. The Training Chief serves as the district’s Incident Safety Officer during significant emergency incidents, monitoring fireground conditions and advising the Incident Commander on risk management in real time. After major events, the team conducts post-incident reviews to identify lessons learned and drive continuous improvement.
BTFD partners with the South Carolina Fire Academy to host and deliver state and national certification courses, giving personnel access to credentials across multiple disciplines.
Key training areas include: Fire Suppression, Hazardous Materials, Technical Rescue, Apparatus Operation, Incident Command, Officer Development, and Operational Safety.
MEDICAL SERVICES
The Medical Services branch provides leadership and oversight for all EMS training, clinical quality improvement, and firefighter health and wellness initiatives. This branch ensures BTFD’s emergency medical personnel meet state and national certification standards while delivering consistent, high-quality patient care.
Clinical quality assurance is a central function. The team conducts systematic reviews of patient care documentation, identifies performance trends, and works directly with the department’s Medical Director to refine clinical protocols and evaluate new treatment technologies.
Beyond patient care, Medical Services champions the long-term health and readiness of BTFD’s workforce. This includes coordinating annual medical evaluations, managing injury prevention and rehabilitation programs, supporting behavioral health resources, and overseeing peer support and post-incident wellness initiatives.
Key focus areas include: EMS Education and Certification, Clinical Quality Improvement, Protocol Development, Firefighter Health and Wellness, Behavioral Health Support, and Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation.
Facilities & Instructional Environment
The Training Facility is co-located with the department’s Maintenance Division and features a four-story training tower designed for realistic, scenario-based exercises. The facility serves as the operational home for both branches of the Training Division, providing classroom space, skills labs, and dynamic training environments that replicate real-world emergency conditions.
Facilities & Instructional Environment
The Training Division conducts extensive, ongoing instruction to ensure all firefighters, officers, and support personnel are prepared for the wide range of emergencies they may face. Key training areas include:
- Fire Suppression
- Emergency Medical Services
- Hazardous Materials
- Search and Rescue
- Technical Rescue
- Incident Command
- Apparatus Operation
- Officer Development
In partnership with the South Carolina Fire Academy, the division regularly hosts and delivers state and national certification courses, providing access to high-level credentials in multiple disciplines.
Leadership & Instructional Team
The Training Division is led by two Battalion Chiefs who report to the Deputy Chief of Operations. Each branch is supported by dedicated training officers responsible for curriculum development, certification tracking, instruction, and coordination with external agencies.
Paul Harrelson
Battalion Chief
Medical Services
Terry Sheriff
Battalion Chief
Training & Safety
Marcus Barnes
Captain
Medical Officer
Doug Favors
Captain
Training Officer
Training Location
BTFD Training Division
19 Ulmer Road
Bluffton, SC 29910