Walterboro Fire Department

07/11/2026

07/02/2026

🎆 Fireworks are a Fourth of July tradition, but safety should always come first. Before you celebrate, learn how to use fireworks safely, protect your loved ones and pets, and help prevent fires: ready.gov/summer-ready

More tips in our blog: fema.gov/blog/freedom-and-fireworks-how-stay-safe-while-celebrating-nations-250th-birthday

07/01/2026

🎆 Happy Independence Day, Walterboro! 🇺🇸
As everyone gears up for backyard cookouts, family time, and fireworks, your local firefighters want to wish you a fantastic 4th of July!
We want you to have a great time celebrating, so instead of reading you the rulebook, we just want to pass along a few common-sense tips to keep your family and property safe this week:
💧 Keep Water Handy: Whether it’s a charged garden hose or a big bucket of water, keep it close by. It’s the easiest way to stop a rogue spark in dry grass before it becomes a problem.
🗑️ Soak the "Duds": Don't toss used fireworks (or the ones that didn't go off) straight into the trash! Soak them in a bucket of water overnight first. This simple step is the best way to prevent accidental fires.
✨ Watch the Sparklers: They look harmless, but sparklers can burn at nearly 2,000 degrees. Keep a close eye on the kids, and consider swapping them out for glow sticks for the really little ones.
🐕 Be a Good Neighbor: Keep an eye on the clock when lighting off the big stuff. Loud booms can be really tough on our local veterans and neighborhood pets, so a little courtesy goes a long way!
Have fun, make some great memories, and leave the emergencies to us. Our crews are on duty and ready if you need us—just call 911.
Stay safe and have a happy 4th, Walterboro! 🇺🇸🚒
— Your Walterboro Fire Department

05/25/2026

To our neighbors here in Walterboro and across Colleton County:
As we gather with family and friends today, let us pause to remember the true meaning of Memorial Day.
The Walterboro Fire Department pays our deepest respects to the fallen heroes of our military who laid down their lives for our country. We understand the call to serve, but today is dedicated to those who gave their all to protect the freedoms we hold dear.
We are forever grateful. Have a safe and meaningful Memorial Day. 🇺🇸🚒

05/16/2026

🚨 Hurricane Season is Almost Here, Walterboro! 🚨
As we gear up for another hurricane season in the Lowcountry, we want to make sure you and your family are ready. Preparation is your best defense when severe weather targets our coast!
Take a few minutes this weekend to review your household plan and complete these essential steps:
• 📍 Know Your Zone: Do you know your official evacuation zone? Storm surges and coastal weather impact us directly here in Colleton County. Check the official SCEMD map today at hurricane.sc/know-your-zone or download the SC Emergency Manager app.
• 🎒 Build Your Kit: Double-check your emergency supplies. Make sure you have enough water, non-perishable food, backup batteries, flashlights, and first-aid gear to last several days. Don't wait until a storm is on the radar to hit the stores!
• 🚗 Plan Your Route: Review the local evacuation routes, especially around I-95, and know exactly where you'll go if an order is issued.
• 📱 Stay Informed: Make sure your mobile devices are set up to receive severe weather alerts and local public safety broadcasts.
Let’s work together to keep our community safe. Preparation starts now!

05/04/2026

Happy Star Wars Day from Walterboro! We traveled to Tatooine, but the Jawas are already stealing our equipment, the hoses are a mess, and we're officially running 'Pump Gperations.' At least we remembered to ch6ck our gaugees! 🚒🪐 May the 4th be with you!

04/30/2026

SCFC to lift burning ban for all counties Friday: Officials urge vigilance while burning outdoors as drought conditions persist

COLUMBIA—The South Carolina Forestry Commission will lift the State Forester's Burning Ban for all counties, effective at 7 a.m., Friday, May 1.

Agency officials believe the combination of rain, elevated relative humidity, improved overnight recovery and a lack of significant wind in the forecast warrant removing all remaining counties from outdoor burning restrictions.

“Many areas of the state have seen rainfall this week, and higher relative humidity and fuel moisture continue to mitigate significant fire potential,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. “Though we expect even more rain across more of the state in the next week, people who choose to burn outdoors should still exercise vigilance as the rain we have received has not changed the state’s drought status.”

Shareable release:https://www.scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Advisory-BurningBanToBeLiftedForRemaningCounties-20260430.pdf

04/28/2026

SCFC TO LIFT BURNING BAN FOR 12 UPSTATE COUNTIES WEDNESDAY

The South Carolina Forestry Commission will lift the State Forester's Burning Ban for 12 counties in the Piedmont region of the state, effective at 7 a.m., Wednesday, April 29.
The counties coming off the burning ban are Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, Union and York (see map).
READ THE FULL RELEASE: scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Advisory-BurningBanToBeLiftedFor12Counties-20260428.pdf

04/23/2026

The Rice Festival, in collaboration with local and state officials, has decided to cancel the fireworks show. The risk of continuing under the South Carolina statewide burn ban is too great to potentially put the community we love in harm's way. While this is disappointing for us all, the safety of our community remains our top priority. Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to celebrating together throughout the rest of the festival!

04/22/2026

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.