The Bethel Volunteer Fire Department has big plans for the future and new leadership aiming to see them completed.
New Fire Chief Michael Laws has succeeded long-time Chief Don Love, one of several changes for the 54-member unit. Love, chief for six years, remains active with the department.
"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, who has been with the department since 2005, is the new board of directors chairman. 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, has a degree in fire science, has training at the South Carolina Fire Academy and has been with the Bethel Volunteer Fire Department for 10 years. He also works for the York 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."
Capt. Scott Boyd credited Love with increasing membership by about 25 percent and boosting the certified training officer corps from one person to five.
In four years, changes at Bethel have included creating a special fire tax district which has increased the department's budget, the addition of four paid firefighters, the purchase of new equipment and lowering the department's Insurance Service Organization rating, which lowers insurance costs for homeowners and businesses throughout the service area.
Bethel VFD is responsible for about 61 square miles, serving more than 20,000 residents and more than 300 businesses.
Love will remain as one of four paid firefighters, leaders said.
"Those are four of the best, most seasoned and trained firemen we have," Solomon said.
Having paid daytime staff was one of the department's main reasons for the special fire tax district, which voters approved in 2009 and went into effect in 2010.
The tax - with different rates for homes, businesses and manufacturing facilities - increased the department's budget from $97,000 in 2008 to more than $540,000 this year. The department spent about $45,000 in 2010 to buy four new "Jaws of Life" rescue tools.
Work now begins to improve Lake Wylie's insurance rating 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 available for public meeting.
The department wants be in constant communication with its community and "not just putting water on the fire," Solomon said.
The department is also asking members to volunteer for second shift, a move designed to keep more people at the station as often as possible to reduce the insurance rating.
