Fort Mill dedicates Ladder 1 and Engine 3 in roughly $2.66 million investment to boost firefighter safety

Fort Mill onstage officials and firefighters dedicated two new fire apparatus — Ladder 1 and Engine 3 — in a public ceremony that organizers said reflects a roughly $2.66 million combined investment and a multi-decade upgrade to the town’s emergency response fleet.

The presenter opened the ceremony by calling the occasion “a fire service miracle,” saying the two trucks will “serve the town of Fort Mill for the next two decades.” He said Ladder 1 is a 105-foot heavy-duty aerial custom-designed and purchased in October 2022, and Engine 3 is a stock unit purchased in April 2025 that was later modified with nonstructural changes to suit local needs.

Why it matters: Town officials framed the purchases as both a safety and readiness improvement for Fort Mill’s 68-person fire department and as part of broader plans that include building Station 3, which the presenter said is in the public bid process.

The presenter described the procurement and delivery process in detail, saying both trucks were built by Pierce Manufacturing (one in Wisconsin, one in Florida) and that the apparatus use roughly 92% American-made components. He credited multiple local firefighters and staff for factory inspections and final acceptance work, naming Deputy Chief Griffin, Battalion Chief Broom, Captains Smith, Jones, Harris, Hethley and Spence for hands-on checks, and singled out Jared Phillips and Andrew Welch of Spartan Fire and Emergency Apparatus for managing vendor relations during delivery.

“Hundreds of lines of specs, one by one,” the presenter said of the factory inspections, adding that staff spent lengthy days verifying wiring, bolts and clearances to ensure the trucks arrived as designed.

Officials also acknowledged administrative and logistical support: assistant town manager Gordon, Chris Sardelli, Deputy Fire Marshal Kelly, administrative assistant Lisa Miller and media technician Tony McMahan were named for planning or documenting the event. The presenter specifically praised long-serving volunteers and career firefighters while recounting the fire department’s history since 1915 and its transition from a volunteer to a full-time department about a decade ago.

Ceremony and next steps: The program included traditional elements — a wheel wedding (wetdown), a blessing to ask for safe service, and a ceremonial push-in of each apparatus. The presenter invited attendees to inspect equipment compartments, ask firefighters questions and remain for refreshments. The presenter said the older 20-year-old ladder that had been frequently out of service will be sold; he estimated its used-market value at about $20,000.

What was not decided: The ceremony was a dedication and public event only; no formal council vote or new appropriation was recorded or announced during the program. The presenter linked the trucks to an existing plan to add Station 3, noting that station construction was at the public bid stage but did not provide a construction timeline or budget for the new facility.

The public dedication concluded with applause and music, and attendees were invited to take photos and speak with crew members as the trucks were pushed into service.