CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – The city’s fire department is asking for more firefighters and a training facility.
The fire department is looking to keep up with the city’s growth by asking for more workers. Chief Le Hendrick spoke about staffing needs in a teleconference Friday with city council during its budget retreat. Chief Hendrick says he needs administrative help and asked to hire an assistant chief of operations, as well as a fire inspector.
He also requested six firefighter positions with starting salaries of $33,070 plus benefits. Hendrick says some FEMA grants could help cover some of the extra costs of more firefighters.
Those firefighters would primarily run a quick response vehicle for lighter calls or non-emergencies.
“We install smoke detectors,” said Chief Hendrick. “We do lift assists and things of that nature, so having that vehicle would keep the large fire truck off the street.”
Chief Hendrick also mentioned the city may need a fourth fire station in the future, if areas near Collins-Jolly Road are developed. A station near there would need a new fire engine and nine more personnel.
The fire department also wants to train firefighters more efficiently. Conway firefighters have to travel to the training facilities for the Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach or Horry County fire departments, but Conway FD is looking at training right in the city.
Chief Hendrick also asked city council Friday about spending $100,000 on a training facility on city-owned land off New Road near Creel Street. It would include shipping containers that are crafted into makeshift structures.
Chief Hendrick says this facility would allow firefighters to get in their required 16 hours of training every year in realistic scenarios.
“We don’t have the call volume that we’ve had in the past,” Chief Hendrick said. “Structure fires are down, which is a great problem to have. I don’t want to discredit that at all. We have to get our live fire training somewhere, so this is a great option for us.”
City council’s budget retreat ends Saturday morning, with discussions about proposals for accommodations and hospitality taxes on the schedule.
