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Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a Volunteer?
HILLTOP FIRE DISTRICT
"Proudly Serving Since 1957"
Hilltop Engine 4 at a Business Fire near Hearon Circle
Here’s your chance to find out!
Look below to find out how you can help your community!
Hilltop Fire District
1283 Asheville Highway
Spartanburg, SC 29303
(864) 585-1111
Unless you have called us for help, your only experience with our fire department may be pulling over to allow us to pass, seeing us on TV, or at vehicle accidents and fires. Ever wonder what we are doing?
Often, we are headed to a fire, vehicle accident, or medical emergency. We are not just firefighters, but medical responders as well. Almost all of our firefighters are medical first responders or Emergency Medical Technicians who can provide basic medical treatment until an ambulance arrives. Many times, we can arrive before an ambulance and can begin treating a patient. We respond to many types of emergencies, but that’s not all we do…
WHO WE ARE
The Hilltop Fire District was organized in 1957 to provide fire protection to the community of Hilltop. We started with one fire engine and a two bay station built by volunteers. In 1966, Hilltop became a Special Purpose Tax District similar to school districts. Hilltop has five commissioners from the community that oversee operations of the department. Over the years, referendums and bonds have been passed by you, our taxpayers, that has allowed Hilltop to grow tremendously. We now have three engines, a ladder truck, and five support vehicles, such as a brush truck, Chief’s car, and a truck with extra air and supplies to use at fires. In 1996, due to a lack of available volunteers, we were forced to hire two firefighters to provide fire protection from 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday. In 2002, we added twenty-four hour paid fire protection and medical first response. Since then, two personnel are on duty at all times to respond to emergencies.
Today, our volunteers come from inside our fire district and from neighboring areas. Our two paid firefighters can cover many of the calls we run, but often volunteers must help them. Due to a decline in volunteerism in the fire district and in general nationwide, we are always looking for new members to help fill our ranks.
WHAT WE DO
The Hilltop Fire District first and foremost responds to fires. These may be grass fires, dumpster fires, vehicle fires, or house fires. But, we also respond to vehicle accidents, hazardous materials spills, and medical calls in our district. We have two engines equipped with the Jaws of Life tools to use when someone is trapped in a car, and they also have medical equipment such as Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) which can be used when someone is having a heart attack. We provide fire prevention activities to schools, churches, nursing homes, and other groups, and we also have Neighborhood watch meetings at our station. We can even have kid’s birthday parties for people in the community.
Firefighters put out a vehicle fire on Howard St.
TODAY’S HEROS
Since September 11, 2001, more attention has been paid to the fire service. Every move a department makes is seen by the public, good or bad. In a time where heroes and role models are mostly sports stars, singers, or actors, many firefighters are being overlooked for the service they provide. Many firefighters do their job as volunteers. They receive no pay, but can benefit from the service they provide their community and the friendships they develop. Firefighters have to be strong, dedicated, intelligent, resourceful, highly motivated, and unselfish. When you or your children look for a hero, look at your local firefighters. We are good people who are here to help and serve you! And remember when you volunteer in your community, you will be a hero to your children and neighbors!TRAINING TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY
Firefighters are highly trained people. Because of the many types of calls we have to respond to, we have to be cross-trained in many areas. A basic firefighter, volunteer or paid, must have a minimum of 120 hours of training before they can fight a house fire. More training is required to respond to hazardous materials calls, vehicle accidents with people trapped and especially medical calls. Once this initial training is complete, which can be more than 260 hours, firefighters must continue to update their skills every year. Before a firefighter can drive a fire truck, they must get a special driver’s license and complete another 48 hours of training.
Hilltop has training every Tuesday night at 7 PM. We have classroom time, hands on time, and even go to our local training facility for live fires in a special building. Being a firefighter is a large commitment of time, but the reward of helping someone in need makes every minute of it worthwhile.
HOW CAN VOLUNTEERING BENEFIT ME?
Volunteer firefighters receive no pay for what they do, yet many love what they do anyway. Why is that?
First, the thrill of fighting a fire and overcoming it cannot be described. Although it is a tragedy when a fire occurs, it gives us a lot of happiness to help save as much as we can. When we receive a call, someone is probably having a very bad day. When we show up, our job is to fix their problem the best we can. We see all kinds of problems and use many different methods to correct them. There is a great sense of accomplishment that comes with fixing problems and making people’s day a little better. Although what we do is serious, we often have a lot of fun during training and meetings. Risking your life with someone develops a bond that binds for a lifetime, and friendships develop that stretch far beyond the station walls.
The State of SC has a Volunteer Tax Incentive Program that gives a taxable income reduction of $3000 on State taxes to volunteers who qualify. This benefits our volunteers if they meet guidelines set by the State for attendance, training, etc.
Hilltop Fire District Call Response
2001:
Medical Calls: 5*
Vehicle Accidents: 94
Structure Fires: 57
Vehicle Fires: 27
Fire Alarms: 75
Other Calls: 107
Total Calls: 365
*Hilltop did not run Medical Calls in 2001 unless requested by EMS.
2002:
Medical Calls: 425
Vehicle Accidents: 102
Structure Fires: 32
Vehicle Fires: 15
Fire Alarms: 48
Other Calls: 95
Total Calls: 717
2003:
Medical Calls: 580
Vehicle Accidents: 111
Structure Fires: 22
Vehicle Fires: 12
Fire Alarms: 26
Other Calls: 74
Total Calls: 827
BECOME A VOLUNTEER!
"Nothing is stronger than the heart of a volunteer"
Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle, US Army, WWII, April 18, 1942
Even if you have no training, the Fire Department will assist you in scheduling courses to fit your schedule. Courses are paid for by the Fire Department with your tax money. People often take a year or more to receive all of their training, but that doesn’t mean you can’t help out at emergencies before you complete it all.
EQUIPMENT
Firefighters must wear and carry heavy and expensive equipment. Our coats and pants can cost over $1200 for each firefighter. We also wear helmets, gloves, hoods, boots, and breathing air packs. This equipment altogether can weigh eighty pounds or more and can cost over $3500 for each firefighter. Of course, the Fire Department furnishes all your basic equipment.
Our fire trucks are also very expensive. Our newest truck cost over $350,000. A bond issue that you can see on your tax notice paid for it and other updated safety equipment. Yearly maintenance on the trucks is also expensive, and any repairs often have to be made by our firefighters or special mechanics in Greenville.
Engine 1 on display at the 2004 State Firefighter’s
Convention in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Our newest truck, Engine 1, has Jaws of Life equipment, medical equipment, a breathing air refill system, a light tower, foam for Hazmat calls, and many other safety features and equipment. This allows our paid firefighters to carry everything they may need when they leave the station, all on one Engine! We never know what our next call will be or how long it may take for more help to arrive, so it is a valuable resource to have the ability to handle most calls off of one Engine.
Men and Women over 18 can become volunteer firefighters with no experience needed. You must be in reasonably good physical shape and pass a SLED background check mandated by law.
Even if you can’t or don’t want to be a firefighter, there are still ways you can help. We are in constant need of people to help with fundraising, community relations, fire prevention, office work, truck maintenance, and building maintenance.
Hilltop Firefighters prepare to fight a business Fire in Metro.
Ladies, if you are interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter, we have a separate sleeping area and shower facilities to accommodate you.
Hilltop also has a Ladies Support Service that helps us with fundraising, special events, and helping us at fires by providing refreshments and performing basic first aid.
If YOU are interested in volunteering for your community, please contact us!
For anyone interested in volunteering, we would be happy to talk with you and show you around. Our two paid firefighters are generally at the station anytime, along with the Chief and Office Manger who are at the station from 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday.
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