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Gold firefighter badge with "BTFD" at the top, "Fire" on the left, "Rescue" on the right, "Est. 1978" at the bottom, and a center image of a tree, water, and sunset. Text within says "Devoted to Duty Above Personal Risk.
The image displays the word "BLUFFTON" in capital letters with a gold-colored serif font on a white background.

Operations

Leading Emergency Response Across the Fire District

Operations Division

Where Mission Meets Action

The Operations Division is the largest and most active branch of the Bluffton Township Fire District (BTFD), consisting of a majority of the department’s personnel. Operating out of nine fire stations, the division is geographically split into two battalions to ensure efficient coverage and rapid response.

Battalion Breakdown:

Battalion 35 includes:
  • 1 Command Vehicle
  • 3 Engines
  • 1 Quint
  • 1 Brush Truck
  • 1 Truck Company
  • 1 Heavy Rescue Unit
Battalion 38 includes:
  • 1 Command Vehicle
  • 5 Engines
  • 1 Tender
  • 1 ALS Service Vehicle
A firefighter in uniform connects a large yellow hose to a fire truck and checks gauges on the control panel during an emergency response.

Personnel are organized into three rotating 24-hour shifts, each comprising:

  • Battalion Chiefs
  • Company Officers
  • Driver Operators
  • Firefighters

Leadership is provided by the Deputy Chief of Operations, who oversees six Line Battalion Chiefs as well as the Battalion Chief of Training.

The Operations Division’s primary mission is to deliver fire suppression, rescue services, emergency medical response, and special hazards mitigation to the residents and visitors of Bluffton Township—24/7/365.

Operations Leadership

A smiling firefighter in full dress uniform holds his hat, standing in front of an American flag and the Bluffton Township Fire District emblem on a gray background.

Adam Corn

Deputy Chief of Operations
A smiling firefighter in formal dress uniform holding a white hat stands in front of an American flag and the Bluffton Township Fire District emblem.

Paul Harrelson

Battalion Chief of Training
A man in a formal fire department uniform stands in front of an American flag and a Bluffton Township Fire District emblem, holding a white hat and smiling at the camera.

Benjamin Rushing

Battalion Chief 35
Shift 1
A uniformed fire chief stands in front of an American flag and a Bluffton Township Fire District emblem, holding a white fire chief hat and smiling at the camera.

Jayme Beach

Battalion Chief 38
Shift 1
A smiling firefighter in a dress uniform holds a cap, standing beside an American flag, with the Bluffton Township Fire District badge displayed in the background.

Giovanni Scianna

Battalion Chief 35
Shift 2
A smiling uniformed fire chief stands in front of an American flag and a Bluffton Township Fire Department emblem, holding his white fire chief's hat under one arm.

Vernon Edenfield

Battalion Chief 38
Shift 2
A bald man wearing glasses and a decorated dark firefighter’s uniform stands holding a white hat. An American flag and a Bluffton Township Fire District emblem are visible in the background. He is smiling at the camera.

Todd Harvey

Battalion Chief 35
Shift 3
A smiling firefighter in a formal dress uniform holds his white hat, standing in front of the American flag and a Bluffton Township Fire District emblem.

Michael Rehill

Battalion Chief 38
Shift 3

Special Operations

Within the Operations Division is the Special Operations Group, composed of cross-trained personnel responsible for:

  • Hazardous Materials Response
  • Technical Rescue
  • Wildland Urban Interface Operations
  • Honor Guard Services

This elite group supplements the department’s core services with specialized skills for high-risk, low-frequency incidents.

Support Functions

In addition to emergency response, the Operations Division plays a crucial support role by:

  • Assisting the Fire Marshal Division with fire prevention and community outreach programs
  • Supporting the Training Division with operational training and readiness initiatives

Operations Locations

Battalion 35

357 Fording Island Road
Bluffton, SC 29909

Battalion 38

260 Raider Drive
Bluffton, SC 29910