Randy Thompson, Fire Marshal
York County Department of Fire Safety
2151 Ogden Rd
Rock Hill, SC 29730
(803) 909-7620 phone
(803) 909-7617 fax

fire.safety@yorkcountygov.com

Functions 

The Department of Fire Safety offers residents a wide range of fire prevention and fire protection services. Employees are trained and equipped to provide fire safety inspections, fire investigations, and public fire education programs for people of all ages.

Because volunteers are crucial to the rural fire system, the department supplies the county's 16 volunteer fire departments with in-depth fire fighting instruction at its training facility on Ogden Road in Rock Hill, SC. Additionally, the department's award-winning fire truck building and maintenance program continues to earn a reputation for excellence by saving tax dollars and by providing state-of-the-art equipment.

Responsibilities

• Conducts routine quarterly fire & life safety inspections for all businesses in the unincorporated area of York County. 
• Conducts plan reviews and occupancy inspections for all new commercial construction projects. 
• Conducts fire investigations to determine origin and cause of suspicious or undetermined fires.  Works closely with law enforcement to arrest and prosecute arson suspects. 
• Conducts public fire educations classes in schools and operates the “fire safety house” and “Patches & Pumper” robot for schools, civic groups and public events.
• Performs routine maintenance, service and repair of all county fire apparatus. 
• Designs, constructs and fabricates fire apparatus for use in the county. 
• Performs annual flow tests and preventive maintenance on all fire hydrants in the unincorporated areas of the county. 
• Performs SCBA annual tests / maintenance and performs annual firefighter fit tests in accordance with OSHA standards. 
• Assists all fire departments with ISO regulations and tests. 
• Operates and maintains the firefighter training center and conducts / coordinates training for all fire departments in the county. 
• Maintains personnel records, insurance information and workman’s compensation information on all volunteer firefighters. 
• Through the Board of Rural Fire Control, provides all necessary apparatus, firefighting equipment, personal protective equipment, training and insurance for firefighters to perform their duties.