Pelham-Batesville Fire Department

The Early Years

The Pelham Batesville Fire Department had its beginnings in a meeting held March 11, 1968 at the Old Mill Stream Inn Restaurant. Residents were concerned over their lack of fire protection and had gathered to discuss what they might do about it.

Fire certainly was no stranger to the Pelham Batesville community. In fact, fire had destroyed the community's central landmark, the Pelham Mill, in the year of 1943. At that time the only fire trucks available came from Greenville and Greer, and both were too far away to be of much help.

In 1968, 25 years after the mill burned, fire protection for the community had not improved. The residents who gathered for that first meeting were determined to do something to change that situation. Enthusiasm for the project was growing.

After several more meetings, a Board of Directors was elected, and the decision was made to name the organization the Pelham-Batesville Fire District and apply with the state for a charter. The charter was received May 31, 1968, and the fire district became an official organization.

August 31, 1969 was a proud day for the new fire department. An open house was held to show the community its new fire station and fire trucks. In a little over a year, the plan to provide fire protection had become a reality. The community officially had a fire department.

While the Pelham Batesville Fire Department was off to a good start, times were lean and funds were earned largely from various efforts of the department's members in various fund raising campaigns and donations.

At times, money was so short that firemen would take up a collection after a fire to pay for gasoline so the trucks would be able to respond to the next emergency.

One could easily be let to speculate that by this time the reality of trying to survive might have dimmed the glow of success from the start. Nevertheless, members persisted and the fire department continued.

Modern Times

Through the early years the Department grew slowly but steadily. The '70s saw much headway made in the area of government funding, and as a result, newer, better equipment was able to be purchased to replace the older apparatus. In 1971 a public referendum was held to determine if the community would support a tax for fire services. The referendum passed with very little opposition. This allowed the District to establish legal boundaries, a tax fee for services and a Board of Commissioners that are appointed by the Governor of the State of SC to manage the affairs of the Department.

As the 1980's opened, a decade of transition began for the fire department and the community it protected. It can be said with certainty that fire protection could not have been provided in the PBFD's early years without the sacrifice and hard work of its volunteer firemen, but in light of the changing responsibilities of the Department, a more permanent staff was needed.

Between 1980 and 1989 the PBFD expanded its paid staff from one person to fifteen paid firefighters, a paid Fire Chief, a paid Assistant Fire Chief, a paid Captain/Fire Inspector, and a paid Secretary, all supplemented by twelve volunteer firefighters.

Changes also took place in the size of the Fire District. Because of the expansion, additional stations became necessary. As part of an agreement with the residents of Pleasant Grove, the District's Station 2 was built in 1981. The station has gone thru 2 remodels and the District is currently looking at building a new Station for this location in the same area of Pleasant Grove.

Growth in the Woodruff Rd. area caused the need for yet another fire station, and in 1988 Station 3 at Five Forks was built. In 2005 station 3 was relocated to its’ present location at 431 Batesville Road in a new and expanded facility. The original building was sold and presently houses a swimming pool supply store.

In 1988 the original fire station on Abner Creek Rd. was now much too small to house the growing operations, so in early 1989 the District opened its new Headquarters Station at 2761 S. Highway 14.

In 1992, a fourth station, which also serves as our apparatus and equipment maintenance facility, was added 789 Brockman McClimon Road.

The Future

As the District continues on with its future change is taking place daily. Both residential and commercial growth continues at an unprecedented rate and the PBFD is constantly improving to compensate for the changes.

The world of fire protection is also changing drastically. Firefighters do not sit around the fire station waiting for a fire to occur. Mandatory training, including physical fitness, along with maintenance of buildings, vehicles, fire hydrants, and pre-fire plan records all keep firefighters busy. In addition, PBFD firefighters now have to handle first responder (medical) calls, hazardous materials calls, and rescue calls along with the increasing number of fire calls.

In addition to fighting fires and responding to emergency medical calls, the Pelham Batesville Fire Department maintains an ongoing fire prevention education program which reaches adults and children in the community as well as businesses which the department protects.

The District's fire prevention inspection program now reaches well over 300 businesses and requires a full-time inspector as well as assistance from firefighting personnel in order to keep up with the number of inspections which must be performed.

All of these changes -- good and bad -- challenge the District's Board and the Fire Department administration and personnel. Yet, just as the District survived the very real challenges of the early years, it can survive the challenges of today and remain a viable source of fire protection for the community.

The dream of a fire department for the Pelham-Batesville community was born in 1968. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of the PBFD members, board, and countless others, that dream is alive and well today.