DARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
TO REPORT A FIRE OR OTHER EMERGENCY, CALL 911
Chief: Pat Cavanaugh
Assistant Chief, Safety Officer & Fire Marshal: Charles Bailey Jr.
Office: (843) 398-4013
Fax: (843) 398-4010
Site Address: 301 Orange Street
Email: darlingtoncityfd@gmail.com
SOUND THE ALARM. SAVE A LIFE.
Home fires claim seven lives every day but having working smoke alarms can cut the risk of death by half. That’s why the American Red Cross is rallying 27,000 volunteers to install 100,000 free smoke alarms nationwide during Sound the Alarm events. This spring, we’ll install free smoke alarms, share safety information in at-risk communities and fundraise to help families prepare for, respond to, and recover from home fires.
Join the American Red Cross to Sound the Alarm, a home fire safety and smoke alarm installation event in Darlington County at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 2. Location TBA. Register to volunteer here. https://www.redcross.org/local/south-carolina/about-us/news-and-events/events/sound-the-alarm-south-carolina.html
COMMON QUESTIONS
NO. According to Section 70-6, It shall be unlawful for any person to burn trash, garbage or other refuse within the fire limits of the city.
NO. Normal residential yard trash and trimmings generated by the property owner or resident shall be picked up by the city sanitation department as scheduled by the mayor and council.
- Limbs shall not exceed three inches in diameter and 3½ feet in length and shall be placed together along the edge of the street for pickup by the city but must be in separate piles from leaves, pine straw and grass clippings. Loose limbs exceeding the length and diameter above stated will not be picked up by the city and must be disposed of by the owner, occupant, contractor or vendor, including tree stumps.
- Leaves, pine straw and grass clippings may be placed together along the edge of the street for pickup by the city but must be in separate piles from allowable limbs.
Yes. Recreational fire pits are allowed within the city limits. Contents to be burned must be branches, limbs, natural materials and cannot include trash or construction materials. A 55-gallon barrel does NOT constitute a recreational fire pit.
NO. It is illegal to discharge fireworks within the incorporated limits of the City.
Prospective volunteer firefighters should download this application and submit to the Department along with a 10-year driving record, proof of insurance, and copies of any relevant training certificates. Members of the department must be age 18 or older. Those ages 14-18 are eligible to become Junior Firefighters and should submit the same application.
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
| American Red Cross | www.redcross.org | Local: 843-662-8121 |
| Arson Hotline | 1-800-CRIME-SC | |
| Darlington County Fire Headquarters | 137 N Center Rd. Hartsville | 843-339-9098 |
| Palmetto Rural Fire Department Headquarters | 1304 E. McIver Rd. Darlington | 843-393-0996 |
| S.C. Forestry Commission | www.state.us.forest/ | Call before you burn! 800-986-3742 |
| State Fire Marshal’s Office | http://statefire.llr.sc.gov/ | 803-896-9800 |
FALSE ALARM RECOVERY FEES
False alarms create additional risks to public safety by diverting limited resources away from both real emergencies and normal activities. The purpose of this false alarm cost-recovery fees is to promote public safety by making alarm users in the City of Darlington directly responsible for preventing false alarms.
Alarm users are allowed two false alarm responses at no charge per calendar month. Additional charges are as follows:
- False Alarm 1 and 2: No Charge
- False Alarm 3, 4, and 5: $50 per response
- False Alarm 6 and 7: $100 per response
- False Alarm 8 and 9: $200 per response
- False Alarm 10 or more: $500 per response
- Failure to respond to the notifying public safety official within 30 minutes will result in a $100 charge regardless of the number of false alarm activations.
Fees collected are distributed to the cost recovery fund for the fire department and the capital improvement fund for the police department.
How to Appeal a False Alarm Charge
Residents and Businesses reserve the right to appeal to the City Manager in writing within 10 days of the date of notification of the charge. In most cases, you must provide supporting documentation along with your written statement for an exemption to be granted.
Payment
Payments are due within thirty (30) days. After 30 days, a late penalty of $25 is assessed and added to the bill. Checks should be made payable to City of Darlington, P.O. Drawer 57, Darlington, SC 29540. Mail Attention City Treasurer.