Beaufort County Emergency Medical Services and Bluffton Township Fire District celebrated the opening of the newest fire station yesterday: Station #31 located at 31 Red Barn Drive, Bluffton.

The station will serve the New Riverside and Pritchardville sections of Bluffton—two of the fastest growing sections of Bluffton. This new station allows fire and emergency personnel to respond more quickly when called cutting response times, ultimately saving lives. Station #31 will cover 911 calls from south of Bluffton Parkway and west of Buckwalter Parkway to the Jasper County border and cover places such a May River High School and housing developments in New Riverside, and Palmetto Bluff.

The Bluffton Township Fire District, Town of Bluffton and Beaufort County EMS worked collaboratively to build and pay for the new 8,000 square foot station. The station was designed and built by local companies beginning in August 2020.

“We knew that this area of the Beaufort County was going to expand rather quickly. We were already looking at this area in 2014. So it’s been a long time planning this location," said Philip Foot, Public Safety Director for Beaufort County.

Other guest speakers included County Council Chairman Joseph Passiment, Council Member Mark Lawson and County Administrator Eric Greenway.

The fire station will house both fire and emergency vehicles, tow EMS crew members, a kitchen area for first responders as well as a sleeping area. It will be staffed 24 hours a day.

The event was covered in its entirety by The County Channel. Watch it here.