DARLINGTON, SC (June 16, 2026) – For the third consecutive year, the City of Darlington has been named a “Fire Safe Community” by the Fire Safe South Carolina program.

The Darlington Fire Department’s 2025 – 2026 Fire Safe Community campaign was spearheaded by Deputy Fire Chief Charles Bailey, Assist. Fire Chief Brandon Maloch and Lt. AJ Cox. The Darlington Fire Department focused on fire safety outreach programs that educated the community on how to stay vigilant, what to do during the event of a fire and how to prevent fires from occurring.

“Our entire department came together and worked really hard on implementing the Fire Safe South Carolina program,” Darlington Fire Chief Pat Cavanaugh said. “I’m appreciative of the leadership within the Darlington Fire Department and everyone’s dedicated passion to making the City of Darlington a safer community.”

The campaign focused on home fire safety talks with community organizations and home safety visits, as well as smoke alarm installations. The Darlington Fire Department partnered with the American Red Cross and South Carolina State Fire to provide smoke alarms for residents. In addition, Lt. Cox visited several Darlington County School District institutions and spoke to students about fire safety.

All data that the Darlington Fire Department collects improves data-driven resources needed for National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) training, which integrates the use of geographic information systems (GIS).

The Darlington Fire Department was presented the prestigious Fire Safe Community designation during the SC Fire-Rescue Conference in Myrtle Beach on Friday, June 12. Hundreds of fire stations across South Carolina were in attendance. Firefighters at the Darlington Fire Department also participated in fire-rescue classes and other educational and networking opportunities while at the conference as well.

The inaugural Fire Safe South Carolina communities were named in 2019, and the Darlington Fire Department has been awarded the honor since the 2023-2024 campaign. The Fire Safe South Carolina program is a partnership between the S.C. State Firefighters’ Association, S.C. State Association of Fire Chiefs, S.C. Fire Marshal Association, S.C. Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators and S.C. and Office of State Fire Marshal.

The Darlington Fire Department has been serving the City of Darlington since 1880. To learn more, please visit www.cityofdarlington.com/fire-department or call 843-398-4013.