Personnel and Training

GVW Fire and Rescue is an all volunteer department. Members of the department receive no compensation and are not reimbursed for personal expenses related to their department duties.  To be a member of the department, candidates must

  • be at least 18 years of age
  • live in the district or within 3 miles of the boundary
  • pass a background check
  • be voted in by a majority of the department
  • be voted in by the board of directors.

13-17 year-olds may apply for cadet membership. Cadets must meet all other department qualifications and must also provide proof of successful school work. Cadet school grades are checked with every report card, and low grades will result in probation for the cadet. 

New members must serve a 60 day probation period. During the probation period, they are expected to attend meetings and training and respond to calls. They are not allowed to run warning devices on POVs and are expected to obey all traffic laws. In some cases the probation period may be extended.

Members are not required to overnight or work specific shifts at the stations. Department policy does not require that apparatus be crewed before leaving the station. Drivers respond apparatus as soon as they arrive at the station, and other personnel respond directly to the scene by POV. All personnel carry voice pagers which give the location and type of call.

Strobe

Department Personnel,
Updated June 2007

Phil Napier Chief 
Grady Friday Assistant Chief 
Marion Kneece Captain  
Bobby Montgomery Captain 
Gabriel Kitchings Lieutenant  
Aaron Fittery Lieutenant  
Andy Johnson Lieutenant 
Jimmie Wood Firefighter
Duane Troutman Firefighter
Lanny Valentine Firefighter
Bryan Kneece Firefighter
Brad Shealy Firefighter
Bobby Anderson Firefighter
Steve Ray Firefighter
Charles Reyes-
Little Eagle		 Firefighter
Brenda Reyes-
Little Eagle		 Firefighter
Philip Turner Firefighter
Clay Swearingen Firefighter
Randy Spradley Firefighter
James Watts Firefighter
Kevin Byrd Firefighter
Mike Rearden Firefighter
Chris Alverson Firefighter
Niles Emenecker Firefighter
Robert Sigwald Firefighter
Bryan Adams Firefighter
David Young Firefighter
Daniel Godwin Firefighter
B.W. Swearingen Firefighter
Dwayne Gray Firefighter
Alan Kneece Firefighter
Jerry Corley Firefighter
Stephen Kitchens Firefighter
Phillip Napier Cadet

Training

The department holds a two hour training session for all personnel twice a month. Attendance at training is mandatory unless excused. In addition, all personnel are required to attend specific South Carolina Fire Academy courses when they are offered in the area by Academy instructors. As a benchmark, all personnel are expected to gain Firefighter One certification within one year of joining the department. Of course, this is not always possible due to scheduling of courses and the obligations of families and "real jobs".  Other courses, such as medical and hazmat, are offered at the department or nearby. The department bears the cost of all training.