GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – After resources were stretched thin by recent disasters, a North Carolina fire district is now pushing for a tax hike in Greenville County.
Cedar Mountain Fire and Rescue straddles the border of Transylvania County, North Carolina and Greenville County, South Carolina.
President Jimmy Jones said the station serves around 1,255 residents—one-third of whom live in the Upstate.
“We have one paid firefighter right now that works four days a week when our other firefighters are at their personal jobs,” said Jones, adding they have more than 40 volunteer firefighters.
“They’re unselfish, very empathetic, hard working, just nice guys,” Upstate resident Brad Carr described.
Carr, who lives near Caesar’s Head State Park in Greenville County, says the North Carolina fire station is closest to his home.
“We’ve been evacuated twice in the last six months,” Carr said. “Persimmon Ridge Fire and Hurricane Helene—they helped out tremendously both times.”
Recent disasters like those, as well as the Table Rock Fire, are putting increased pressure on the small station.
“Our resources have been stretched in ways that we never thought possible,” Jones said.
That’s why, he explained, Transylvania County asked the station to expand operations to full-time.
“Having a paid firefighter 24 hours (a day), will give us, obviously, a firefighter able to respond to calls 24 hours a day 7 days a week.”
To help accomplish that, Transylvania County is increasing funding and taxes by two mills. In order to provide those same services in Greenville County, Jones is requesting a tax increase of 3.2 mills.
In addition to staffing full-time positions, the money will also help pay for a new fire engine arriving this fall.
Jones said the station currently operates the oldest first-out engine in Transylvania County and called the new engine a much-needed upgrade.
Money from the proposed millage increase would also help replace outdated radios.
“To upgrade those older radios with the new technology that’s out now, the radios we need will be around $7,000 or $8,000,” Jones said.
Carr said he would support a reasonable tax increase to support the station.
“We love the Cedar Mountain Fire and Rescue people. They hold blood drives, they have barbeques. They save our houses from fires.”
