Cheraw Fire Department

04/21/2026

It’s dry out there, and that means a higher risk for wildfires. Once a fire starts, it can spread quickly. The State Forester’s Burning Ban, issued by The South Carolina Forestry Commission, remains in effect. All outdoor burning is prohibited in unincorporated areas of the state, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires, and other recreational fires. Get the latest wildfire updates, visit https://www.scfc.gov/

04/17/2026

Please refrain from any outdoor burning until further notice!

SC Forestry Commission to issue statewide burning ban; restriction on all outdoor burning goes into effect at 7 a.m. Friday

COLUMBIA—The South Carolina Forestry Commission is issuing a State Forester’s Burning Ban for all counties, effective at 7 a.m. Friday, April 17.

A State Forester’s Burning Ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of the state.

Forestry Commission officials cite a particularly dangerous mix of elevated wildfire risk factors through the weekend that warrant limiting all ignitions in the interest of public safety.

Rapidly escalating drought conditions across the state, a critical decrease in relative humidities over the next several days and gusty winds that are expected to accompany an approaching cold front will combine to create extreme fire danger.

"When it’s this dry – energy release component values are at high-to-critical levels – we’re just as likely, if not more, to see wildfires that are fuel-driven rather than wind-driven. Add the other volatile conditions of increased wind and lower relative humidity, and it becomes an especially precarious situation,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. "These conditions not only increase the likelihood of wildfires igniting easily and spreading rapidly, but would also make them more difficult for firefighters to control.”

While the ban does not apply to fires used for the preparation of food or fires used in appropriate enclosures (portable outdoor fireplaces, chimineas or permanent fire pits constructed of stone, masonry, metal or other noncombustible material that conforms with all applicable South Carolina fire codes), Forestry Commission officials urge the utmost caution burning outdoors under these exemptions.

Likewise, citizens should exercise extreme vigilance operating any equipment that could create sparks, avoid parking on dry grass and refrain from using fireworks.

The ban will stay in effect until further notice, which will come in the form of an official announcement from the Forestry Commission.

Shareable release:https://www.scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Advisory-StateForestersBurningBan-20260416.pdf

04/13/2026

Join us in celebrating Chief Murray’s 38 years of service to the Town of Cheraw.

04/03/2026

For CFD page: The Cheraw Fire Department was pleased to present Carter Jones with the South Carolina State Firefighters Association a donation for the Fire Heritage Center & Museum coming to Columbia that is under design. Learn more about this wonderful project and how you can contribute here:

https://scfirefighters.org/about/history/friends-of-the-south-carolina-fire-heritage-center-museum/

03/27/2026

The Town of Cheraw is seeking to hire a Full Time Firefighter/Engineer for the Fire Department!

Starting a job with the Town of Cheraw can lead to a rewarding career in local government. In addition to on the job training and transferable skills, the Town offer's the following benefits to employees:

- Health Insurance provided by Blue Cross/Blue Shield with 95% of the premium covered by the Town.
-Enrollment in the SC Retirement System that provides a pension upon retirement (PORS for firefighter)
- Paid vacation and sick time
- Paid holidays
- Uniforms

Requirements:

- All jobs require a high school diploma or general education degree (GED).
- Valid CDL or Class E Driver’s License
- Must possess a valid SC Driver’s License
- Must pass a pre-employment drug screening, background check, and a fire physical.
- Certified Firefighter I & EVDT, SCFA Pump I, with Firefighter II and SCFA Pump II Certification preferred

—Apply Today in person at Cheraw Town Hall
(200 Market Street) Monday-Friday 8:30am to 5pm—
The Town of Cheraw is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Applications will be accepted until positions are filled.

For more information about job descriptions and duties please contact Madison Scott at the Town of Cheraw, 843-537-7283

03/27/2026

SC Forestry Commission to issue statewide burning ban, effective at 4 p.m. today

COLUMBIA—The South Carolina Forestry Commission is issuing a State Forester’s Burning Ban for all counties, effective at 4 p.m. today.

A State Forester’s Burning Ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of the state.

The ban does not apply to fires used for the preparation of food or fires used in appropriate enclosures (portable outdoor fireplaces, chimineas or permanent fire pits constructed of stone, masonry, metal or other noncombustible material that conforms with all applicable South Carolina fire codes).

Forestry Commission officials say weather conditions over the next several days present a greatly elevated potential for fires igniting easily and spreading rapidly. Dangerously low relative humidities – reaching below 20% in some areas – combined with extremely dry fuels statewide and gusty winds will create a particularly volatile mix of wildfire risk factors throughout the weekend.

"In addition to the intensifying drought conditions, the weather we’re going to see statewide over the next several days makes it ripe for any fire that starts to burn intensely and move fast,” SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones said. "While these conditions can make wildfires ignite easily anywhere and make it more challenging for firefighters to contain, we’re really concerned about areas where events like Hurricane Helene and recent ice damage have led to higher amounts of fuel. This burning ban is necessary to limit ignitions to the maximum extent possible to prevent severe wildfires for public safety purposes."

The ban will stay in effect until further notice, which will come in the form of an official announcement from the Forestry Commission.

Shareable link:https://www.scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Advisory-StateForestersBurningBan-20260327.pdf

02/25/2026

Cheraw, S.C. – The Cheraw Fire Department (CFD) responded to an early morning structure fire at 210 Jimilyn Road in Cheraw for a multi-dwelling structure fire. Fire crews initiated an aggressive interior attack on a first-floor apartment of a room and contents fire. Initial dispatch reports indicated that all occupants were out of the apartment building, but after speaking with an occupant of an upstairs apartment, the occupant advised that her child was still asleep in the apartment. Lieutenant Kyle Brower assisted the mother in retrieving the child and turned the child over to EMS for evaluation. After an evaluation of the child, no injuries were found.

“A quick response by our department allowed for a good knockdown of the fire on the first floor, preventing its spread to the other apartment units. Smart thinking on the part of Lieutenant Brower to ensure all occupants were indeed out of all the apartments,” said on-scene commander Captain Daniel Rivers

Dispatched at 3:10 AM, CFD was on scene within minutes. Assisted by mutual aid departments, Brocks Mill and Teals Mill, the fire was brought under control in twenty minutes. The cause of the fire is believed to be heating unit-related. CFD was back in service at 6 AM.

01/11/2026

FORESTRY COMMISSION ISSUING RED FLAG FIRE ALERT FOR 33 COUNTIES SUNDAY

The South Carolina Forestry Commission is issuing a Red Flag Fire Alert for 33 counties across the Midlands, P*e Dee and coastal regions of the state, effective at 6 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 11.

A Red Flag Fire Alert does not prohibit outdoor burning, provided that all other state and local regulations are followed, but the Forestry Commission uses the alert to strongly encourage citizens to voluntarily postpone any such burning until the alert is lifted. Land managers who are considering conducting prescribed burns should take extra care if they still choose to burn under a Red Flag.

The alert is being issued to discourage people from burning outdoors when weather conditions present an elevated risk of wildfire. In addition to dry fuels resulting from the lack of significant rain, forecasts are calling for very low relative humidity – below 25% – and gusty winds across much of the state tomorrow.

Counties excluded from the Red Flag Fire Alert have received what Forestry Commission officials believe is sufficient rainfall to avoid an abundance of wildfire ignitions. They include Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, Union and York.

“The combination of dangerous conditions we’re going to see in the affected areas tomorrow are the classic ingredients for elevated wildfire risk, and they’re going to be vulnerable to fires that can escape easily and spread rapidly,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. “With this alert, we’re asking people to respect the weather and hold off from burning outdoors until the weather improves.”

While portions of the mountains and Piedmont have received minimal rainfall this week, fuels are already very dry in some areas. Low relative humidity and high wind speeds contribute greatly to wildfire risk. while rain wets fuels, fine surface fuels dry rapidly under low humidity and strong winds creating high fire danger.

Adding to the danger, particularly in the western part of the state, are the heavy fuel loads that remain in our forests from Hurricane Helene. Not only can these downed, drying trees and other fuels act as kindling, increasing the risk of wildfire ignition and spread, but they also are likely to impede firefighters’ access, adversely impacting response capability.

Although a Red Flag Fire Alert does not ban outdoor burning, it does trigger certain county or local ordinances that restrict outdoor fires, so residents should contact their local fire departments to check whether such restrictions apply in their areas. The alert will remain in effect until lifted by the Commission, whose fire managers will continuously monitor the situation.

Shareable link:https://www.scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Advisory-RedFlagFireAlert-20260110b.pdf

12/15/2025

🚒 Promotion Announcement 🚒

The Rock Hill Fire Department is proud to announce the promotion of Battalion Chief Anthony Baker to Deputy Chief of Operations, effective 12/15/2025.

Deputy Chief Baker will oversee the Suppression Division and directly supervise the department’s six Suppression Division Battalion Chiefs. With 25 years of dedicated service, he provides exceptional experience and leadership to this role.

Please join us in congratulating Deputy Chief Anthony Baker on this well-deserved promotion! 👏🎉👏