Goose Creek Fire Department welcomes new heavy rescue truck

GOOSE CREEK, S.C. (WCBD) – A ceremony was held Tuesday to mark the arrival of Goose Creek Fire Department’s new heavy rescue truck.

Goose Creek Fire Chief Mike Nixon said the E-ONE Cyclone Combination Rescue is the first of four apparatus that are scheduled to be delivered to the department this year.

Chief Nixon said the truck was specifically designed and engineered to serve the needs of the city for the next 15 to 20 years.

The truck’s arrival comes amid a booming population in the Berkeley County city. Chief Nixon said Rescue 1, the company that will be staffing the rig, responded to 1,260 emergency calls last year alone and expects that number to rise.

“We do not expect these numbers to go down – we expect them to go up with population growth and the challenges you have from a growing and expanding region,” he said.

Chief Mixon said the truck will not only respond to routine fire and emergency calls but will also be a specialized unit that will handle a multitude of technical rescue incidents, including structural stabilization and hazardous materials response.

“As the city and county grow, so does our fire department. When a new risk is faced, the Goose Creek City Fire Department will face that challenge and we will be trained and prepared. This is just the start of a new era for us,” said Chief Nixon.

Goose Creek Mayor Greg Habib thanked city council members for their support of the fire department and said their goal has long been to ensure the agency has the best equipment to be the most professional fire department it can be.

“We have been committed to that, and we will continue to be committed to that. I could not be more proud of this department under Chief Nixon’s leadership and I could not be more proud of the reports that I get from citizens about their interactions with this department,” Mayor Habib added.

Father Noly Berjuega of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Goose Creek was on hand to bless and offer a prayer of protection over the apparatus and firefighters.

“In facing the challenges that the firefighters and paramedics face in the city of Goose Creek, there is untold risk, untold challenges that they are going to face every day – physical and mental challenges,” said Chief Nixon ahead of the blessing.

Tuesday’s ceremony took place at Button Hall Station off Button Hall Avenue.