Lowcountry Fire District faces hurdles in getting new fire trucks

AWENDAW, SC (WCBD) – The Awendaw-McClenllanville Fire District says they need a whole new fleet of fire trucks because the ones they have are outdated.

However, costs and supply chain requirements are preventing them from moving forward at the moment.

There are 4 fire engines serving much of the Awendaw area.

All 4 have seen better days.

“We have a fleet that is in dire need of replacement and trucks that are in desperate need of repairs,” said Brett Simms, deputy fire chief for the Awendaw-McClellanville Fire District.

A fleet of 4 new fire trucks costs $4 million, and the fire department's annual budget is only $3.2 million.

Simms says inflation isn't helping their cause: “The same truck we bought 2 years ago has already had a 25% markup due to inflation. »

Supply chain issues further complicate matters: “It takes about 3 years if you order a fire truck today to get it tomorrow, so all fire departments have to try to get a piece of equipment that they must replace. »

However, Simms and the firefighters remain hopeful.

They plan to request a loan period from Charleston County, which would begin in November, to help them purchase the fleet of fire trucks.

“Simms says the new fire trucks they are considering purchasing are much more advanced and could even improve their response time.