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The Brocks Mill Rural Fire Department was started by several of the local concerned citizens. Mr. Jim Berry, Mrs. Rose
Ann Hillian, Steve Stafford, Barney Tillman, and Gordon Comer were just a few who worked long hard at many
community meetings to gain support for the development of the Fire Department. The State of South Carolina granted
incorporation papers in October of 1980.
When the Department began, the first two trucks purchased were housed in members own personal shops because there
was no building to put them in. An old Community store building with 3 and ½ acres was purchased about three years
after the department had been formed. A shelter with doors was added to the side to store the two Fire trucks in.
Ann Hillian, Steve Stafford, Barney Tillman, and Gordon Comer were just a few who worked long hard at many
community meetings to gain support for the development of the Fire Department. The State of South Carolina granted
incorporation papers in October of 1980.
When the Department began, the first two trucks purchased were housed in members own personal shops because there
was no building to put them in. An old Community store building with 3 and ½ acres was purchased about three years
after the department had been formed. A shelter with doors was added to the side to store the two Fire trucks in.
In the years to follow, the department built a new building, a 60 ft. x 60 ft. It was a metal building with two-thirds the
space devoted to the four trucks and one-third of the building became offices, kitchen area, restrooms, maintenance room
and a meeting area. This building was designed for expansion of the Bay areas as needed later on. At this time there were
21 volunteers in the department. Eight of those had been certified by the South Carolina Fire Academy as Interior
Structural Firefighters.
After the purchase of a 1968 pumper, the department started looking into dump tanks to pump from. This would free up
tankers to go get more water. The department purchased two heavy duty trucks for this purpose. Tanks were built for the
trucks and the tanks had large dump valves installed to speed up the process. With these two trucks and a dump tank, the
water flowing capacity dramatically increased. The department later purchased a third newer pumper which allowed for
the retirement of the oldest pumper we had.
The department was slowly evolving its standards to the point that an ISO inspection was requested. After the inspection,
the rating was returned as a 7 / 9 class for our area which was an improvement from the 9 originally assigned our
department. This ISO rating would now begin to start saving our homeowners on their insurance bills.
space devoted to the four trucks and one-third of the building became offices, kitchen area, restrooms, maintenance room
and a meeting area. This building was designed for expansion of the Bay areas as needed later on. At this time there were
21 volunteers in the department. Eight of those had been certified by the South Carolina Fire Academy as Interior
Structural Firefighters.
After the purchase of a 1968 pumper, the department started looking into dump tanks to pump from. This would free up
tankers to go get more water. The department purchased two heavy duty trucks for this purpose. Tanks were built for the
trucks and the tanks had large dump valves installed to speed up the process. With these two trucks and a dump tank, the
water flowing capacity dramatically increased. The department later purchased a third newer pumper which allowed for
the retirement of the oldest pumper we had.
The department was slowly evolving its standards to the point that an ISO inspection was requested. After the inspection,
the rating was returned as a 7 / 9 class for our area which was an improvement from the 9 originally assigned our
department. This ISO rating would now begin to start saving our homeowners on their insurance bills.
The Department started looking for better trucks for our tankers. Two Military surplus vehicles were acquired through a
South Carolina Forestry Commission loan program. These trucks had specially designed tanks built for them. They were
then put into service as tankers / brush truck units. The older fuel oil trucks that had been our tankers were now retired
and sold.
The Fire District had become more populated since it began especially toward Cheraw, on Midway Road . The
Department was donated a ½ acre lot on Midway Road by Evelyn Alexander and a second station was built in 1999.
In the year 2001, the department placed a bid for three fire trucks being offered for sale by the Chesnee Fire Department.
The bids were successful and the two Seagraves pumpers and one Snorkel 55 foot aerial device were put into service.
The department again requested another ISO inspection. This time we were able to reduce our class to
6 / 9 classification. This was the lowest ISO rating of any rural Fire Department in Chesterfield County at the time.
In 2002, the need to expand our response to out lying areas was further improved when land on Hinson Hill Road was
donated by Kenny Martin. A metal building was again built creating the third station in the Brocks Mill Fire District. The
department now had 27 volunteer fire fighters from different genders and ethnic backgrounds. 22 members are certified
Interior Attack fire fighters and the other five are in the training stages.
South Carolina Forestry Commission loan program. These trucks had specially designed tanks built for them. They were
then put into service as tankers / brush truck units. The older fuel oil trucks that had been our tankers were now retired
and sold.
The Fire District had become more populated since it began especially toward Cheraw, on Midway Road . The
Department was donated a ½ acre lot on Midway Road by Evelyn Alexander and a second station was built in 1999.
In the year 2001, the department placed a bid for three fire trucks being offered for sale by the Chesnee Fire Department.
The bids were successful and the two Seagraves pumpers and one Snorkel 55 foot aerial device were put into service.
The department again requested another ISO inspection. This time we were able to reduce our class to
6 / 9 classification. This was the lowest ISO rating of any rural Fire Department in Chesterfield County at the time.
In 2002, the need to expand our response to out lying areas was further improved when land on Hinson Hill Road was
donated by Kenny Martin. A metal building was again built creating the third station in the Brocks Mill Fire District. The
department now had 27 volunteer fire fighters from different genders and ethnic backgrounds. 22 members are certified
Interior Attack fire fighters and the other five are in the training stages.
The Brocks Mill Rural Fire Department covers over 70 square miles in Northern Chesterfield County . There are
approximately 1000 families, 15 businesses, 13 churches, two major highway arteries and part of the Pee Dee River in our
coverage area.
In 2005, we were given a FEMA Grant through the Firefighter Assistance Program that allowed us to purchase a brand
new pumper. We had saved a good bit for a pumper already, so the decision was made amongst all members to get a
new identical pumper for all three stations. We had to borrow the money for the third pumper. We also added a third
tanker to our fleet that is carrying 2200 gallons of water. Our 1992 Chevrolet work van was converted into a first rate
service truck complete with a three bottle cascade system for airpacks, radios on Low Band, High Band and Ultra High
Band, generator and lights, medical supplies, and various other Pieces of fire fighting equipment.
Finally this past fall in 2006, we completed another ISO inspection which now gives us a solid 6 rating. The training
involved is never ending with different chemicals in existence today, illegal drug labs, and changes in National security, our
volunteers have trained as much as 200 hours per person per year in addition to fighting fires and maintaining their
employment elsewhere. With continued support from our community and the dedicated volunteers that have graciously
served the Brocks Mill Rural Fire Department over the last 27 years, we will continue to provide the best possible service
to any and all who call for our assistance.
approximately 1000 families, 15 businesses, 13 churches, two major highway arteries and part of the Pee Dee River in our
coverage area.
In 2005, we were given a FEMA Grant through the Firefighter Assistance Program that allowed us to purchase a brand
new pumper. We had saved a good bit for a pumper already, so the decision was made amongst all members to get a
new identical pumper for all three stations. We had to borrow the money for the third pumper. We also added a third
tanker to our fleet that is carrying 2200 gallons of water. Our 1992 Chevrolet work van was converted into a first rate
service truck complete with a three bottle cascade system for airpacks, radios on Low Band, High Band and Ultra High
Band, generator and lights, medical supplies, and various other Pieces of fire fighting equipment.
Finally this past fall in 2006, we completed another ISO inspection which now gives us a solid 6 rating. The training
involved is never ending with different chemicals in existence today, illegal drug labs, and changes in National security, our
volunteers have trained as much as 200 hours per person per year in addition to fighting fires and maintaining their
employment elsewhere. With continued support from our community and the dedicated volunteers that have graciously
served the Brocks Mill Rural Fire Department over the last 27 years, we will continue to provide the best possible service
to any and all who call for our assistance.