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Published: Wednesday, Feb. 01, 2012 / Updated: Wednesday, Feb. 01, 2012 02:42 PM

Bethel takes new lead

Fire department names new chief, plans for more service and savings

LAKE WYLIE -- 

Bethel Volunteer Fire Department has big plans for the future, and new leadership aiming to see them completed.

Newly elected Chief Michael Laws replaced long-time leader Don Love earlier this month, one of several changes for the 54-member unit. Love, chief for six years, remains active with the group, but wasn’t elected to an officer or board position.

“Mike had some good ideas about where he wanted to see the fire department go, and the majority of members agreed with him,” said Assistant Chief Chris Hybarger.

Josh Solomon, with the department since 2005, is the new board of directors chair. He sees the changes at Bethel as a group “wanting to move in a new direction” with more firefighter training, an increased community presence and more efficient work from members.

“That’s not to take anything away from Don,” Solomon said. “He’s a great guy, and he brought us a long way.”

Laws, 29, represents a youth movement for the department. His experience includes a degree in fire science, training from the South Carolina Fire Academy and 10 years with Bethel. He also works for the county Department of Fire Safety.

“My main goal for the fire department is family focus,” Laws said. “My No. 2 goal is solidarity, everybody being on the same page.”

Firefighters say the new direction isn’t an insurmountable problem for backers of the previous regime.

“There’s always going to be a little bit of friction, but no more than any administration would suffer through when there’s a change,” Laws said.

Capt. Scott Boyd credited Love for increasing membership by about 25 percent and moving from one certified training officer to five. In four years, changes at Bethel have included the public passing of a special fire tax district multiplying the department’s budget, the addition of four paid firefighters, new equipment and lowering the department’s Insurance Service Organization rating, which lowers insurance costs for homeowners throughout the service area. Love will remain as one of four hired firefighters hired, leaders say.

“Those are four of the best, most seasoned and trained firemen we have,” Solomon said.

Paid daytime staff was one of the department’s main goals for instituting the special fire tax district, which won voter approval May 2, 2009, and went into effect March 1, 2010. The tax - based on a scale of $9.20 per year for a $100,000 home, with different rates for businesses and manufacturing facilities - increased the budget from $97,000 in 2008 to more than $540,000. The tax, along with a $10,000 donation from the River Hills Lions Club, made purchase of $45,000 four new “Jaws of Life’ equipment possible in 2010.

Work now begins to further lower Lake Wylie’s ISO number, which could take up to two years. When the number dropped to five, homeowners saw the biggest savings. A drop to four could mean a boost to the local economy.

“The business community will see a big impact as well,” Solomon said.

Bethel leadership hopes to focus more on fire prevention outreach, meeting with homeowner associations and making their three fire stations public meeting places. The department wants be in constant communication with its community and “not just putting water on the fire,” Solomon said.

They’ll also ask for more members to volunteer for second shift, keeping someone at the station as often as possible in part to help with the ISO reduction.

“It may only be a minute or two difference having someone at the station,” Solomon said, “but when you have an emergency, obviously every second counts.”