Hardeeville Fire Department

08/21/2026

Hardeeville Fire Department experienced an exceptionally busy 12-hour period, responding to multiple significant incidents while continuing to handle the everyday calls for service throughout the city.

During that stretch, crews responded to two separate motor vehicle entrapments. One of those incidents required an especially technical extrication operation, with firefighters working carefully and methodically to safely remove the trapped occupant. A heavy wrecker was also utilized to assist crews with that complex extrication.

While crews were working that incident, another crew was operating on the opposite side of the city at a vehicle fire. Firefighters quickly went to work and extinguished the fire, preventing further damage and hazards.

And in between those major incidents crews answered a dozen additional calls for service.

It was a demanding 12 hours that required coordination, teamwork, training, and dedication from our firefighters and all of our mutual-aid partners.

We are proud of the men and women who continue to answer the call, no matter how busy the day gets. Their commitment to serving the Hardeeville community does not go unnoticed.

Thank you to our firefighters, dispatchers, mutual-aid departments, and everyone who helped keep our community safe. ❤️‍🔥

08/20/2026

The Hardeeville Fire Department Dive Team recently participated in continuing education and specialized dive training at a rock quarry in North Carolina. The training focused on a variety of techniques and scenarios designed to sharpen our skills and prepare our divers for the challenging conditions they may encounter during real-world operations.

One of the key components of the training was underwater compass work and navigation, along with other specialized diving techniques that help our team operate safely and effectively in low-visibility and unfamiliar underwater environments.

With numerous bodies of water throughout the Hardeeville Fire Department response area, maintaining a highly trained and capable dive team is essential. Our commitment is to constantly stay abreast of the latest training, techniques, and specialized team operations so that when our community needs us, we are ready to respond.

A special thank-you to our dedicated dive team members for continuing to invest their time, effort, and expertise into being prepared to serve our community. Training never stops, because the need for preparedness never stops.

08/20/2026

The City of Hardeeville Phoenix Academy is building something special.

We have brought together an incredible mix of experience, competence, and diversity. Our newest personnel include paramedics with up to 25 years of experience. We have paramedics coming from Maryland, as well as local paramedics with up to 19 years in emergency medicine. We also have Advanced EMTs from Kansas, EMTs from Denver, Colorado, and experienced EMTs from the surrounding area.

Our senior firefighter ranks bring decades of experience from Washington, D.C., the Columbia area, Virginia, Hilton Head Island, Savannah, and beyond. These members have decades of training, education, and experience in fire, EMS, and rescue. At the same time, we have newer backseat firefighters and new EMTs who are hungry to learn and ready to be developed.

Six additional recruits will soon begin EMT and fire school, starting their careers with a strong foundation.

This academy brings together experience from across the country with one common standard: competence.

We are building a department focused on aggressive medicine, technical rescue, and relentless suppression. We expect our people to train hard, know their job, and perform when it matters most.

Different backgrounds. Different experiences. One standard.

The future of the City of Hardeeville Fire Department is being built right here. City of Hardeeville, SC

08/19/2026

Project Phoenix Phase 1 Academy

Every morning at 0800 our new personnel in the Phoenix Academy pay tribute to Captain Andy Orphanoudakis who passed away in the Line of Duty while working for City of Hardeeville Fire Department in 2021. Captain O would come in early before shift and complete a gear circuit before his shift began because he was dedicated to the community he served. Our new personnel honor Captain O and remember his sacrifice by suffering together, training together, and focusing on physical fitness in gear as well as personal development. City of Hardeeville, SC

08/18/2026

Phoenix Academy Phase 1 Day 1

In support of Project Phoenix Hardeeville Fire Department has recruited and hired needed personnel in multiple positions to prepare and deliver services throughout the southern portion of Unincorporated Jasper County. Our new personnel will complete a challenging, fast paced, physically and mentally demanding in house academy over the next two weeks. Our new members will complete extensive training in disciplines including fire suppression, driver training, pump operations, victim rescue, advanced life support, and search and rescue operations. New personnel started the day hearing directly from our City Manager, Mr. Josh Gruber. He set the tone and reminded our new personnel of the high expectations our community and leadership has placed on our Fire Department. He expects excellence and mission accomplishment. Good Luck to all of our newest members of Hardeeville Fire. City of Hardeeville, SC

08/12/2026

Trauma Training, ACLS, and High Performance CPR for the win!!!!

08/12/2026

Last week our crews trained with Hardeeville Police Department on Active Shooter Response. Acting as a Rescue Task Force (RTF) crews focus on getting into the building as quickly as possible to ensure we do not delay life saving care. Working alongside our brothers and sisters at Hardeeville Police Department in a realistic environment keeps both agencies well trained and vigilant. City of Hardeeville, SC

07/12/2026