March 7, 2007

Last Meeting
March 7, 2007

Reporter – Jason Brown

President Molly Cousins called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Roz Browning, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Lyman Whitehead entertained us with his usual brand of Health and Happiness.

Herb Harrison made an announcement about an upcoming oyster roast in Chapin this coming week-end and invited members to attend.

Si Amick and Jim and Connie Jeffers presented our Rotary Club’s Excellence is Vocational Service to Bobby Keough for his tireless efforts with Jeffers Hand Bell Supply.

Jim Jeffers also introduced and inducted Kevin Kuper, our newest member, to the Lake Murray-Irmo Rotary Club.

Fire Marshall Jeff Allen was introduced as our guest speaker. Mr. Allen has been with the Irmo Fire District since 1994. He moved to this area in 1991. He and his wife are both committed to the safety and welfare of our community. Mr. Allen’s wife is a paramedic for Richland County. The Irmo Fire District is located behind the Bi-Lo Shopping Center at the intersection of St. Andrews and Piney Grove Road.

The Fire Marshall spoke to us about the excellent job the Irmo Fire Department does for our community and how they get out in the community to educate about public safety. In 2006, the Irmo Fire Department went on 1,800 calls. They serve 43,000 people over 22 square miles with two stations. Of the 1,800 calls, 600 were vehicle related, 550 were medical related, 105 were fires, and the remaining were related to educational duties.

Through extensive training and educational programs, we are getting the most out of our tax dollars from the Irmo Fire District. A well equipped, well run fire department offers the community the highest possible quality of life. The Irmo Department’s main benefit to the community is their availability and reliability when called upon in a time of need.

Fire Marshall Allen feels that a fire department is in a different situation then other agencies, such as police departments. If more police officers are put on the streets, the feeling is that crime should go down. But putting more firefighters on the streets will not eliminate fires. What more firefighters will do is decrease the value of the loss to property, and most importantly the loss of life. A well trained and equipped fire department that can respond quickly from a nearby station will confine a fire to the room of origin before it quickly consumes the building, thus we experience less significant property loss and loss of lives.

Out of 104 fires with estimated values of potential loss of property totaling $21,500,000 last year, only $640,000 in losses occurred because of the great work of Fire Marshall Allen and our local fire department.

The meeting was adjourned by President Molly.