South Greenville Fire District

South Greenville Fire District traces its origins to 1956, when local Ruritan Club members raised funds to purchase the department's first fire truck. The state formally established it as a Special Purpose District in 1965, giving it appointed leadership and tax-funded support, and in 1977 the department shifted to a combination paid and volunteer staffing model that it still uses today.

The district has grown steadily from its original four stations built in 1968 to its current footprint of eight stations spread across the Fork Shoals, Pelzer, Belton, Simpsonville, and Piedmont areas, each carrying engines, brush trucks, and specialized apparatus such as a water tender, quints, a platform truck, a hazmat unit, and rescue/boat units. Headquarters, along with the district's rescue and battalion apparatus, is based at Station 80 on Augusta Road in Pelzer.

The department reports fire prevention, fire suppression, rescue, and hazmat response among its core services, supported by an 82-person staff spanning command officers, suppression personnel, a fire marshal's office, training, administration, and a communications/dispatch team.

South Greenville Fire District accepts Rookie Firefighter applications on an ongoing basis and evaluates candidates continuously; Telecommunicator openings are filled as needed. Applicants apply through an online JotForm application, and Rookie Firefighter candidates are contacted by email and phone before the testing process begins, so applicants are asked to resubmit if their contact information changes. Telecommunicator applicants are contacted by phone to schedule an interview.