DILLON, SC (WBTW) – The South Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Dillon County after two firefighters were severely burned after a January house fire in the town of Latta.
The two firefighters injured were Latta Fire Chief Bobby Jones and BJ Sturgeon.
Jones was treated and released from a local hospital after the fire. Sturgeon was taken to the Augusta Burn Center because his injuries were severe.
Since the fire Dillon County is being cited for three safety code violations totaling about $2,300.
The first violation states Dillon County Public Safety failed to furnish a place of employment free of recognized hazards that may cause death or serious physical harm to employees.
The second violation says the employer should have known that firefighters were responding to the home on Calm Street back in January.
Third violation reports monthly inspections were not conducted within the last three years on self-contained breathing apparatus at fire station 2.
Dillon County Administrator Clay Young tells News 13 the county is negotiating with OSHA and will be addressing the three violations.
Young says OSHA has given the county positive recommendations that will help improve the Latta Fire Department and all fire departments across the county. He says the county is looking to implement additional procedures along with replacing old fire equipment.
Captain Matt Jackson with the Latta Fire Department says both firefighters hurt earlier this year are doing much better.
Jackson says the fire department and the county are now working together to become in compliance with all three citations.
“Ever since January, our training has picked up a tremendous amount. A lot of it has been more recorded and our hours of training have been increased. I can’t speak for others but on behalf of Dillon County Station 2…all of our training and our guys are doing very well,” said Jackson.
Dillon County Administrator Clay Young says the county is negotiating with OSHA and hopefully in the next three or four weeks they will get an answer on what exactly the county will need to do to become in compliance with safety codes.
