Horry County Fire Rescue Secures $2M for New Socastee-Burgess Station

Horry County Fire Rescue will build a new fire station to serve the growing Socastee and Burgess communities, backed by $2 million in state grant funding secured by local lawmakers. Officials gathered to announce the funding, which will allow the county to construct the facility years ahead of its original timeline.

The project is funded through state money championed by S.C. House Representatives Heather Crawford and Val Guest. Guest, who represents District 106, noted that while the funding was initially at risk of being cut during state budget discussions, local legislators stood firm to secure the full $2 million allocation for the area.

Horry County Fire Rescue Chief Joseph Tanner highlighted that the additional station will directly improve public safety in the southern portion of the county. The facility is expected to reduce emergency response times for nearby residents and assist in lowering Insurance Services Office (ISO) ratings, which can help reduce property insurance costs for homeowners and local businesses.

While the station was previously part of the county's capital improvement plan scheduled for roughly six years out due to funding availability, County Administrator Barry Spivey confirmed the state grant will significantly accelerate construction. Specific details regarding the exact site location and project timeline have not yet been finalized, but county officials plan to discuss the operational schedule during Horry County's upcoming budget retreat in November 2026.

Residents in the Socastee and Burgess areas can monitor Horry County Council proceedings and future Horry County Fire Rescue updates as site selection and construction schedules are officially determined.