York County has no enforced standard for the level of fire protection its 16 departments deliver. County leaders want to change that.

At a Monday, Sept. 14, workshop in Rock Hill, York County Council directed staff to meet with every fire department and collect data on service levels, equipment and call volume before committing to a long-term fire protection plan. YoCo News first reported on the workshop.

David Garner, assistant county manager for public safety, acknowledged at the workshop that the county has no level-of-service standard it enforces or expects. Garner said the work will not return to council in October or November. Council Chairwoman Christi Cox said the county should already have baseline data on each department and that after two and a half years of discussion, it still does not.

That gap matters for Fort Mill and Tega Cay residents.

District 7 Councilwoman Debi Cloninger said growth along Interstate 77 requires paid firefighters around the clock.

How the county got here

Cox said the fire-service question came to a head during budget talks, when council was asked to make 39 firefighters county employees without an agreed plan. The county's FY2027 budget, posted on the York County website, included an additional $665,000 for fire services.

York County's fire system relies on 16 departments, seven special tax districts and a mix of volunteer and paid firefighters. An anonymous survey of council members found agreement on partnerships, sustainable service and accountability. Members split on whether the county should employ firefighters directly, fund service countywide or through tax districts, and how fast change should come.

Council members divided on approach

Vice Chairman Tom Audette compared the fire districts to the county's four school districts and said council must first understand each district's needs. District 2 Councilman Andy Litten called the county's scattered approach no longer efficient and said the current governance structure "works until it doesn't."

District 3 Councilman Tommy Adkins said he has not seen evidence of a fire service problem and called emergency medical services the bigger issue. He said tax districts rarely report to council as required.

Garner presented seven possible roles the county could play, ranging from convening and supporting departments to directly operating and funding fire service. Members did not settle on one.

Cox said the county's equipment policy works as a waiting list rather than being based on need. She cautioned that National Fire Protection Association standards are rarely met.

What comes next

By consensus, council accepted staff's plan to build what Garner called an "effective response framework." Staff will use county mapping data, possibly hire consultants and meet with each of the 16 departments. Departments will also receive a version of the council's survey.

Fire service will remain a standing item on the monthly Justice and Public Safety Committee agenda for public input. Council took no votes on the fire item at the Sept. 14 workshop.