VIDEO: The Darlington Fire Department recently received a Volunteer Strategic Assistance and Fire Equipment (V-SAFE) grant for the third consecutive year. The $14,050 grant from the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s Office of State Fire Marshal provided the department with the funding to purchase new equipment that will help save lives. A DFD news release states that 57% percent of the department are volunteers. The department qualified for the grant because volunteers make up more than half of the staff. Fire Chief Patrick Cavanaugh detailed the recent struggles of finding hardworking firefighters, whether they’re full-time or volunteer. “Recently, the pay for fire departments across the country is shrinking, and the amount of training the federal government is requiring is increasing,” Cavanaugh said.
