For Immediate Release – May 19, 2025
Apparatus “Wet Down” Ceremony for Engine 151 and Engine 161
Media Contacts: Shannon Tanner, Fire Chief – 843-665-3231 or stanner@cityofflorence.com
FLORENCE, SC – The City of Florence will hold an Apparatus “Wet Down” Ceremony for Engine 151 and Engine 161 on May 21, 2025, at 2:00 PM. The ceremony will take place at Fire Station #6 (860 Smith Drive) and the public is invited to attend. Parking is available next door at Carolina Bank (3037 W. Palmetto Street), as space at the station is limited.
City of Florence Fire Chief Tanner stated, “We are thrilled to announce the addition of two new apparatus to our fleet. We extend our sincere thanks to the Mayor and City Council, the City Manager, and our State Representatives for their invaluable support in helping secure the funding that made these acquisitions possible.”
Both engines 151 and 161 feature 750-gallon water tanks with a 1,500-gallon-per-minute pump, meeting the capabilities of the rest of the fleet. The addition of these state-of-the-art apparatus supports the City’s ongoing efforts to provide high-quality emergency response and public safety services. These purchases also contribute to the Fire Department’s ability to maintain an ISO (Insurance Services Office) rating of 1. This rating, which is based on how well a fire department meets national fire protection standards, is scored on a scale from 1 to 10—with 1 being the highest possible ranking. An ISO Class 1 rating can also result in lower property insurance costs for residents and businesses. Out of 472 rated departments in South Carolina, the City of Florence Fire Department is 1 of 31 departments with an ISO rating of 1.
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