Department History

 

By 1979 a group of 22 volunteers were trained by the SC Fire Academy. Ron McGonigle was appointed as the first acting chief.

 

Santee signed a co-op agreement with Eutawville in 1980 to join forces to fight fires in either district.

 

Through a referendum with the County 1982, Santee Volunteer Fire Department was voted as a Tax District which allowed tax dollars to be given to help support the department. A Junior Firemen program was started that same year with youth aged 12-17, in good health and with permission of parents, became Junior Firemen. They received training in fire prevention and some basic fire fighting skills to be used when they became volunteer firefighters.

 

The name was changed in1983 to Santee Fire Service District.

 

With the retirement of Chief McGonigle in December 1989, Frankie Birt was appointed chief.

 

On June 1, 1985 the ground breaking for the fire station was held. Wendell Dunning, State Senator John W. Matthews Jr, State Rep Ken Bailey and Santee Mayor Franklin B. Goodwin Jr all wielded shovels to help Chief Ron McGonigle with the ceremony. A Mutual Aid agreement to join forces to fight fires in either district was signed that same year with Vance.

 

When Frankie Birt retired in April 1991 Gene Ball and Kenneth Wright were appointed interim chiefs. By November 1992 Gene Ball was appointed chief.

 

Karen Waltz became the first Santee woman firefighter in 1993