Byrdtown fire station celebrates 30 years of dedication

The Darlington County Fire District Byrdtown Rural Fire Department Station 12 celebrated its 30th anniversary and honored Larry Stegner, who has been with the station since its beginnings in 1979.

Stegner served as fire chief of the station for 30 years and only recently transferred to the Dovesville station to serve as a firefighter in July. He was named firefighter of the year for 2009 and presented with a 30-year service pin, an engraved hat and a State House resolution.

Service pins were also presented to Chief Jacob Patrick, 10 years, and Assistant Chief Charles Ingram, 30 years.

“There’s no greater calling than to serve your fellow men,” Rep. Denny Neilson said as she presented Stegner with a State House Resolution in his honor. “We honor you for this lifetime of devotion.”

Chief David Williamson began his fire service career at Station 12 member because of Stegner.
“Larry’s the one that twisted my arm and got me in,” Williamson said. “I fell into a career, a love of a job I didn’t realize I was missing.”

“A lot of people don’t realize how instrumental he was in the formation of the 911 center and the fire district,” Williamson said. “I cannot thank you enough for your service.”

Neilson also recognized the entire station as a whole with a second State House resolution.

“We honor all of you,” Neilson said. “For the gallant efforts of the volunteers and … for their selfless dedication.”

“Ten people are paid a salary for the Darlington County Fire District, but it’s made up of people who volunteer,” said Wesley Blackwell, county council chairman and council representative for the Byrdtown area. “We appreciate so much the people who volunteer. They risk their lives for this … We can’t say enough for the people who volunteer.”

The Byrdtown station, now at the intersection of Bethlehem and Byrdtown roads, went through several transformations, including two buildings in 1981 and 2002.

In May 1979, the station received its charter from the state and bought its first vehicle Annabelle that June.

“Currently the station has the newest fleet of trucks in the county,” Patrick said, including two of its original trucks including Annabelle.

In March 1984, Station 12 purchased its first tanker and became only the second station in county to run a tanker operation.

In 1987, the Byrdtown station united with others across the county to form the Darlington County Fire District, and voters implemented a county wide tax to pay for the fire service.

“This is the birthplace of the Darlington County Fire District,” Blackwell said.

In 1994, training instructor John L. Melton III of Cheraw established curriculum and gave the fire district a rank structure.

Station 12 had the first person to reach the master firefighter rank (Stegner), which includes more than 375 hours of training at the state level in addition to station training.
Byrdtown was also the first rural station willing to accept female firefighters and has always been in the top percentage for training and continues to be.

Today, one of the original firefighters, Charles Ingram, still works at the station. All in all, Byrdtown Rural Fire Station has 19 members and several applications in the process.

Hartsville City Fire Chief Bill Heathman also started out at Station 12.

“It’s like a big family reunion,” Susan Ingram said. Susan is married to Sam Ingram, the second son of Charles Ingram.

“Darlington County owes everything to volunteers,” Williamson said. “We’ve got great people in the community willing to help their neighbor. We owe them a lot of support and gratitude.”