Colleton County Fire Rescue

What Colleton County Fire Rescue does

Colleton County Fire-Rescue is an all-hazards, full-service county government fire-rescue department headquartered in Walterboro, South Carolina, serving the residents and visitors of Colleton County. The department provides fire suppression, advanced life support emergency medical services and ambulance transport, technical rescue (high/low angle, confined space, water rescue, hazardous materials), aircraft rescue fire fighting at Lowcountry Regional Airport, marine/dive recovery operations, and community risk reduction programs including the RUOK elderly welfare check initiative. It is one of only six non-hospital based ground programs in the United States administering whole blood in the field, and operates a C.A.R.E. Flight air medical program in partnership with Omniflight Meducare.

The department's underlying technology is built around a specialized apparatus fleet — including two E-One 95' aerial platforms, 34 water tenders supporting rural water shuttle operations, an ARFF truck, mobile breathing air compressors, mass-spectrometer-equipped hazmat units, and a marine fleet — supported by 296 fire hydrants (179 pressurized, 117 dry) inspected twice annually and 650+ pre-incident surveys. Personnel consist of approximately 260 volunteer and 70 career staff, all cross-trained as firefighters and EMTs (Paramedic, Intermediate, or Basic), with training delivered through the SC Fire Academy under IFSAC accreditation and supplemented by partnerships with MUSC, Technical College of the Lowcountry, College of Charleston, and Trident Technical College. The department maintains an ISO Class 4 rating — described as the largest full-service, all-hazards fire-rescue department in the U.S. with such a rating.

Colleton County Fire-Rescue operates as a public-safety function of Colleton County Government and does not generate commercial revenue; it is funded through the county tax budget. Minor revenue streams include tiered false-alarm fees ($0/$25/$100) accruing to a Fire Operations Fund and professional services revenue from fire inspections and plans reviews under International Fire Code 2018 and referenced NFPA standards. Services are delivered to the entire county through 36+ fire stations and the 911 emergency dispatch system, with 98% of patient transports remaining in-county to HCA Colleton Hospital. As a statutory monopoly provider within its jurisdiction, the organization has no commercial customers in the conventional sense — the "customer base" is the entire Colleton County population served under government mandate.

Name

Colleton County Fire Rescue

Legal name

Colleton County Fire-Rescue

Website

https://colletonfire.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Colleton County Fire-Rescue is an all-hazards county government fire-rescue department serving Colleton County, SC, with 330 personnel across 36+ stations, providing fire suppression, EMS, technical rescue, hazmat, ARFF, and the RUOK elderly welfare program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fire and Emergency Medical Services

NAICS

Fire Protection (922160), Ambulance Services (62191)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire Prevention, Inspection & Code Enforcement (Life Safety) (BPAIAGAL), Wildfire Suppression & Incident Response (AFAMAEAE)

Keywords

• Fire suppression services
• Emergency medical services
• Technical rescue operations
• Hazardous materials response
• Fire inspection services

Headquarters

HQ city

Walterboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Safety Services: Primarily tax-funded emergency services provided to all citizens and visitors of Colleton County through 911 emergency dispatch system.
2. False Alarm Fees: Fees collected for false fire alarms: First occurrence $0, Second occurrence $25, Third and each occurrence thereafter $100. Fees accrue to Fire Operations Fund.
3. Fire Inspection Services: Routine inspections of public occupancies using International Fire Code 2018 Edition and referenced NFPA standards, including plans reviews.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Colleton County Fire-Rescue is a county government all-hazards, full-service fire-rescue department delivering fire suppression, advanced life support EMS and ambulance transport, technical rescue (Hi/Lo Angle, water, confined space, hazardous materials), Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) at the Lowcountry Regional Airport, water rescue, fire inspections, public education, and training to the residents and visitors of Colleton County, South Carolina through 36+ fire stations and a 911 dispatch system.

Product overview

Colleton County Fire-Rescue is an all-hazards, full-service fire rescue department offering a comprehensive portfolio of emergency services. The department operates approximately 36 fire stations serving Colleton County, South Carolina. The core offerings include fire suppression (engines with 750-2000 GPM pumps), emergency medical services with advanced life support ambulance transport (using Kenworth/Wheeled Coach MAV units), and technical rescue operations (Hi/Lo Angle, Water Rescue, Confined Space, Hazardous Materials, and Bike Response). Specialized capabilities include Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) at the Lowcountry Regional Airport and marine/water rescue operations. Supporting services include fire inspections and code enforcement, training programs (state-approved EMT training facility), public education programs (including the RUOK elderly welfare check program), and fleet management. The department maintains an extensive apparatus fleet including engines, tenders (3000-gallon water tankers), rescue vehicles, ambulances, aerial platforms (95' Quint units), ARFF vehicles, marine vessels, and brush trucks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• C.A.R.E. Flight: Air medical program allowing participants to serve as Firefighter/Flight-Paramedic on board a rotor wing platform.
• R.U.O.K. Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of patient transports go to a medical facility in the county
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• South Carolina Fire AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPersonnel trained through SC Fire Academy which holds IFSAC accreditation and maintains the most comprehensive state fire training facility in the United States. Department is a state-approved Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training facility.
• American Heart AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCredentials instructors through American Heart Association for CPR and advanced cardiac life support training.
• Technical College of the LowcountrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsors EMT-Basic classes and provides ongoing education opportunities for department personnel.
• Medical University of South CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining affiliations for EMT and paramedic programs; receives critical patient transports at Trauma Center.
• Department of DefenseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides training and credentialing opportunities for department instructors and personnel.
• College of CharlestonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining affiliations for EMT and paramedic programs.
• Trident Technical CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining affiliations and ongoing education for department personnel.
• Palmetto Richland Memorial HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining affiliations for EMT and paramedic programs.
• South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRegulatory oversight for EMS division and outdoor burning regulations; participates in training and emergency response coordination.
• Lowcountry Regional EMS CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional EMS coordination and training oversight.
• South Carolina Forestry CommissioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGoverns outdoor burning in Colleton County; responds to wildland fires to assist in suppression efforts.
• South Carolina State Fire Marshal's OfficecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInspects all public schools, detention centers, LP Gas facilities, and pyrotechnics displays; issues Fire Safe Community Designations.
• Smart911 / Rave Mobile SafetycoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides emergency alert registration system for citizens to receive emergency alerts and share critical information with 911 dispatch.
• HCA Colleton HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceives 98% of patient transports; provides medical direction and standing orders for pre-hospital care including whole blood administration.
• C.A.R.E. Flight / Omniflight MeducarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAir medical transport program allowing Firefighter/Flight-Paramedics to serve on rotor wing platform for critical patient transport.
• CSX RailroadcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConducts train derailment tabletop scenarios and emergency preparedness exercises with department.
• American Red Cross (Carolina Lowcountry Chapter)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerParticipates in disaster preparedness exercises and provides assistance to citizens after disasters.
• South Carolina Emergency Management DivisioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerState emergency management coordination and disaster response support.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Falck USA: International EMS and fire/rescue services provider operating in select US markets with both transport and supplemental fire service contracts. Closely comparable all-hazards service menu delivered under a contract-driven model.
• Global Medical Response: Largest private provider of ambulance and air medical services in the US (parent of AMR and Air Evac Lifeteam). Comparable scope across EMS, interfacility transport, and rotary-wing air medical, but operating on a private, contract-revenue model versus the county-tax model.
• American Medical Response (AMR): Largest US private ambulance operator providing 911, BLS/ALS transport, and event medical services. Comparable EMS service line and clinical capabilities; differs in being a for-profit national contractor rather than a county department.

Others

• Motorola Solutions: Provider of mission-critical communications, CommandCentral CAD, and emergency dispatch software used by public safety agencies. Comparable as the underlying technology stack for the 911 dispatch and emergency alerting workflow described in the subject's profile.
• Pierce Manufacturing (Oshkosh Corporation): Leading manufacturer of custom fire apparatus (pumpers, aerials, custom chassis). Comparable because the subject's apparatus fleet (E-One aerials, Holmatro tools) sits at the customer end of Pierce's product ecosystem.
• REV Group: Public manufacturer of specialty vehicles including fire apparatus under E-One, KME, and other brands. Comparable as the supplier side of the same apparatus ecosystem Colleton operates (E-One Titan II ARFF, E-One aerials).
• Stryker (Medical Division): Manufacturer of EMS medical equipment including power load stretchers referenced in Colleton's apparatus profile. Comparable as the supplier of pre-hospital clinical equipment integrated into the subject's ambulance fleet.

Direct peers

• Mecklenburg County EMS Agency (MEDIC): County-run EMS agency providing 911 medical response and transport for a single county. Comparable public-sector EMS delivery model with cross-trained personnel and a hospital-partnered clinical footprint.
• Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department: Large all-hazards county fire and rescue department in Northern Virginia providing fire suppression, EMS, technical rescue, and hazmat. Directly comparable as a county-level, all-hazards public fire-rescue organization with cross-trained career personnel.
• Charleston County EMS: County-level EMS provider serving Charleston County, South Carolina, with comparable state regulatory framework (SCDHEC oversight), transport relationships with regional hospitals, and overlapping service population dynamics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/colletonfire
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@colletonfire
• Facebookfacebook.com/Colletoncountyfire
• Instagraminstagram.com/colletonfire
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colletonfire

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Colleton County Fire Rescue