Holly Springs Fire and Rescue District

04/23/2026

An Air Quality Alert is in effect for Spartanburg County through today, April 23, due to smoke from wildfires in Georgia, according to the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services. Fine particle levels may reach unhealthy ranges—especially for those with respiratory issues. Consider limiting time outdoors, keeping windows and doors closed, and running AC on recirculate if possible. Stay safe and take precautions.

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) has issued an Air Quality Alert for fine particulates for the following counties in South Carolina:

Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Clarendon, Colleton, Dorchester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Georgetown, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lee, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union, and Williamsburg, along with Columbia and Richmond counties in Georgia.

The Air Quality Alert is in effect through Thursday, April 23rd. An Air Quality Alert means that the fine particulate concentrations within the specified area may approach or exceed unhealthy standards due to large wildfires burning over southern Georgia.

Southerly winds on the west side of high pressure centered just off the Southeast coast will continue transport smoke from the southern Georgia wildfires into South Carolina and the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA). As of the early afternoon hours Wednesday, air quality was already deteriorating over the CSRA region and the Midlands. As stable conditions develop this evening and overnight, smoke is expected to expand in coverage and become more noticeable. Smoke from the wildfires is expected to continue to affect the region on Thursday.

SCDES recommends that individuals with respiratory health issues limit time spent outdoors and/or move all activities indoors to avoid the smoke or fine particulates. Keep windows and doors closed. Run an air conditioner if you have one but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke and fine particulates from getting inside. Please note that locations closest to the wildfire activity are more likely to experience smoke at any given time.

South Carolina Air Quality Forecast: https://des.sc.gov/programs/bureau-air-quality/air-quality-forecast
For more information about fine particulates, please visit: https://fire.airnow.gov
For more information about wildfires/prescribed burns, please visit: https://www.scfc.gov/

If you see or smell smoke, take the necessary precautions to protect your health.

04/18/2026

Please join us in congratulating FF Brandon Ellis on completing Rookie Firefighter School at the Spartanburg County Emergency Services Academy! FF Ellis was part of Class #37 and was proudly pinned by his daughter, Hannah.

04/17/2026

🚨 WE’RE HIRING! 🚨

The Holly Springs Fire & Rescue District is growing, and we’re excited to announce we’re adding a new Full-Time Lieutenant position to our team!

As our community continues to grow, so does our commitment to providing the highest level of service, protection, and care to the people we serve every day. We’re looking for motivated professionals who are ready to step into a leadership role and help us continue providing top-tier service to our community.

💰 Competitive pay (DOE)
📅 Schedule: 48/96
📋 Requirements: 5 years of experience, Fire Officer II, SCFA FF Survival/RIT, Class E license, and others
✅ Benefits: Full family medical, dental/vision, paid training, retirement system, and more!

📩 Submit your resume to: [email protected]

04/16/2026

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

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

04/03/2026

A-Shift spent the morning with the kindergartners from Holly Springs-Motlow Elementary School today! Lieutenant Bedingfield talked with students about creating a fire escape plan with their families and identifying a safe meeting place. He also emphasized the importance of staying low to the floor if they ever need to escape a house fire.

Firefighter Rodd showed the students the turnout gear firefighters wear and demonstrated how it’s put on, while Engineer Swayngham explained what each piece is used for and how it helps keep firefighters safe.

Students were then divided into three groups so Lt. Bedingfield, Eng. Swayngham, and FF Rodd could give them a closer look at the equipment on the fire trucks.

We appreciate Holly Springs Motlow Elementary for the opportunity to help teach these students about fire safety!

04/01/2026

HSFRD is proud to announce another year of receiving the Fire Safe SC community designation! Congratulations to all other departments across the state!

Fire Safe South Carolina congratulates 241 South Carolina fire departments for receiving the 2025 Fire Safe South Carolina Community Designation. For more information:https://llr.sc.gov/aboutus/mediacenter/news/2026/FSSC%202026%20Press%20Release.pdf

03/27/2026

The South Carolina Forestry Commission has issued a statewide burning ban, effective at 4 p.m. today, due to dangerous wildfire conditions. All outdoor burning is prohibited, with limited exceptions for cooking and enclosed fire pits. Please help keep our community safe by following the ban until it is lifted.

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

03/24/2026

‼️🔥 The South Carolina Forestry Commission has issued a statewide Red Flag Fire Alert due to dry conditions, high winds, and low humidity increasing wildfire risk. While outdoor burning isn’t banned, it’s strongly discouraged. Please help protect our community by postponing any burning and staying cautious until conditions improve.

SC Forestry Commission issuing statewide Red Flag Fire Alert, effective immediately

COLUMBIA—The South Carolina Forestry Commission is issuing a statewide Red Flag Fire Alert, effective immediately until further notice.

The alert is being issued to strongly discourage people from burning outdoors when weather conditions present an elevated risk of wildfire. In addition to drought intensifying from a lack of significant rainfall, forecasts are calling for higher winds, low humidities and no precipitation in the foreseeable future.

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. Because current weather conditions are very conducive to fires escaping easily and spreading rapidly, anyone considering outdoor burning should take extra precautions if they still choose to burn under a Red Flag.

“The combination of dangerous conditions and dry fuels we’re going to see statewide for the next several days all add up to an elevated wildfire risk, and any fire that ignites is likely to burn intensely 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. If you have burned recently, we encourage you to monitor the burn area to make sure the dry conditions don’t cause it to rekindle.”

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/2026/03/Advisory-RedFlagFireAlert-260324.pdf

03/24/2026

🔥 The South Carolina Forestry Commission is urging caution as dry conditions, low humidity, and high winds increase wildfire risk across the state. With little rain expected over the next 7–10 days, drought conditions are likely to worsen. Please use extreme care and

02/18/2026

Holly Springs Fire & Rescue District had a busy few days last weekend.

Friday, February 13 — A Shift was dispatched to a residential structure fire call located on W Star Drive. Engine 36 responded and arrived as first due engine.

Saturday, February 14 — A shift was dispatched to a residential structure fire call located on Jackson Road. Engine 36 responded and arrived as first due engine.

Sunday, February 15 — B shift was dispatched as automatic aid to the Inman City Fire Department area to assist with a residential structure fire located on N Main Street. Engine 36 responded and arrived as third due engine.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all our mutual aid partners who came to assist with these calls, and to our volunteers who returned to lend their support.