Members of the Lake Wateree Presbyterian Church voted Sunday to donate a 2.17 acre parcel to Fairfield County for use as a fire department substation. The parcel is located next to the church on Old Windmill Road in Ridgeway.
County Councilman Jimmy Ray Douglas, who facilitated the donation, was asked by the church’s elders, Joanne Reed, Curtis Blackmon and Ray Daniels, to address the congregation prior to the Sunday morning vote.
“The 4,000 square-foot building will house two bays for the fire department as well as one for EMS and one for the Sheriff’s department. The Sheriff’s bay will accommodate deputies on patrol at the lake, and it will house the department’s boat,” Douglas told The Voice .
The substation will also house a 1,200 square-foot recreation center with a small kitchen and two restrooms.
Douglas said the sub-station would serve 285 homes that do not currently have fire protection.
“It will also give these homes a 150 ISO rating and reduce insurance premiums drastically,” Douglas said.
The station will be manned by Southeastern Fire Department
Douglas said the EMS station will bring service closer to where problems would arise during holiday events and on days EMS is requested to be present at Lake Wateree.
Council recently voted to order a new radio service that EMS Director Mike Tanner said will enable all emergency vehicles to get a clear signal over 95 percent of the County, including the Lake area.
