Firefighting Wiki
Advertisement

Department Profile[]

Organization[]

  • 1 Headquarters
  • 6 Stations
  • 2 Battalions
    • 1 Fire/EMS
    • 1 Ocean Rescue

Fleet[]

  • 5 Engine Companies
  • 3 Truck Companies
    • 2x 107' rear-mount ladders
    • 1x 100' rear-mount platform
  • 2 Squad Companies
  • 1 Heavy Rescue Company
  • 3 Medic Ambulances
    • 2 Full time
    • 1 Seasonal
  • 1 QRV Medic
  • 1 Hazmat Unit
  • 1 Safety Officer
  • 7 Ocean Rescue Units
    • 3 Seasonal Ocean Rescue
    • 3 Year round Ocean Supervisors
    • 1 Year round Ocean Battalion Chief
  • 3 Jet skis
  • 3 Boats
    • 1x Center Console
    • 2x Inflatable Rescue Boats
  • 6 Utility Vehicles
  • 2 UTV's
  • 1 Highwater Rescue Unit
  • 1 Logistics Support Unit
  • 1 Maintenance Support Unit
  • 1 Technical Services Unit
  • 1 Opiod Outreach Unit
  • 1 Reserve Engine
  • 1 Reserve Truck
  • 1 Reserve Squad
  • 2 Reserve Ambulances
  • 3 Training Vehicles
  • 6 Fire Prevention Officers
  • 6 Chief Officers
  • 1 Emergency Management Vehicle
  • 7 Support Trailers
    • 2 USAR Trailers
    • 2 Incident Management Trailers
    • 2 Hazmat Trailers
    • 1 Support Services Trailer

Rank Structure[]

  • Fire Chief
  • Deputy Chief
    • Operations
    • Administration
  • Division Chief
    • Fire/EMS Operations
    • Special Operations
    • Support Services
  • Battalion Chief
    • A Shift
    • B Shift
    • C Shift
    • Ocean Rescue
    • Training
    • Fire Prevention
    • Emergency Management
  • Captain
    • Station Captains (6)
    • Safety Officers (3)
    • Training Captains (2)
    • Deputy Fire Marshals
    • Logistics Officers
    • Public Information Officer
  • Lieutenant
    • Company Officers
    • Deputy Fire Marshals
    • Ocean Rescue Supervisors
  • Master Firefighter
    • Driver/Engineer for a Engine/Truck/Rescue
  • Firefighter/Paramedic
    • Officer on a Medic unit or assigned on an Engine/Truck/Rescue
  • Firefighter/EMT
    • Assigned to Squad/Engine/Truck/Rescue/Medic
  • Probationary Firefighter/EMT
    • Firefighter within first 6 months after completion of training
  • Firefighter Recruit
    • Currently undergoing training at the academy
  • Junior Firefighter
    • 16-18 year old completing preliminary fire training (unpaid)

Personnel by Unit Types[]

Unit Name Personnel
Engine 1x Officer, 1x Master Firefighter, 2x Firefighters/EMTs
Truck 1x Officer, 1x Master Firefighter, 2x Firefighters/EMTs
Rescue 1x Officer, 1x Master Firefighter, 2x Firefighters/EMTs
Squad 2x Firefighter/EMTs
Medic 1x Firefighter/Paramedic, 1x FireFighter/EMT
Ocean 1x Firefighter/EMT, 1x Rescue Swimmer/EMT
OS 1x Ocean Rescue Lieutenant/EMT
ALS 1x Firefighter/Paramedic
Safety 1x Safety Captain
Battalion 1x Battalion Chief

Call Response[]

  • Note: Units Responding are not always the same, some differences are left to the discretion of dispatchers, officers, or chiefs
  • Note: A "First Responder" is either a Squad, Engine, Truck, or Rescue
Call Type Examples Units Assigned
Low Priority EMS Sick Person, General Medical, Vital Check, etc. 1x Medic
Medium Priority EMS Respiratory Distress, Head Injury, Chest Pain, Seizure, Stroke, Overdose, Unconscious, etc 1x Medic, 1x First Responder
High Priority EMS Cardiac Arrest, Respiratory Arrest, etc 1x Medic, 2x First Responders
Hazmat Smell of Gas, Chemical Spill, Chemical Leak, etc. 1x Hazmat Engine (Engine 6), 1x Engine/Truck, 1x Safety Officer, 1x Medic
Motor Vehicle Accident Vehicle vs. Vehicle, Vehicle vs. Pedestrian, etc 1x Engine/Truck/Rescue, 1x Medic
Motor Vehicle Accident (Highway) Any MVA occurring on a major roadway 2x Engine/Truck/Rescue, 1x Medic
Motor Vehicle Accident w/ Entrapment MVA with an occupant entrapped in a vehicle 1x Rescue, 1x Engine/Truck, 1x First Responder, 1x Medic, 1x Safety Officer, 1x Battalion
Vehicle vs. Building Vehicle crashes into structure 1x Rescue, 1x Engine/Truck, 1x Medic, 1x Safety Officer, 1x Battalion
Elevator Rescue Persons trapped in elevator 1x Rescue/Truck/Engine
Surf Rescue Lifeguard needs assistance rescuing swimmer from water 2x Ocean Rescue, 1x Ocean Supervisor, 1x First Responder, 1x Medic, 1x Safety Officer, 1x Battalion
Surf Rescue (Code X) Swimmer missing in water 3x Ocean Rescue, 2x Ocean Supervisor, 3x First Responder, 1x Medic, 1x Ocean Rescue Battalion, 1x Safety Officer, 1x Battalion
Brush Fire Grass Fire, Small Forest Fire, etc 1x Engine
Fire Alarm Residential or Commercial Alarm Sounding 1x Engine/Truck
Residential Structure Fire House Fire 2x Engine, 2x Truck, 1x Rescue, 1x Squad, 1x Medic, 1x Safety Officer, 1x Battalion
Commercial Structure Fire Office Building Fire, Apartment Fire, High Rise Fire 3x Engine, 2x Truck, 1x Rescue, 2x Squad, 1x Medic, 1x Safety Officer, 1x Battalion
Second Alarm Fire Additional Units Dispatched to larger fire 1x Engine, 1x Truck, 1x Logistics, 1x Chief Officer, 1x Fire Marshall, 1x Training Officer
Third+ Alarm Fire Additional Units Dispatched to larger fire 1x Engine, Mutual Aid (Horry County Fire Rescue, North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue, Surfside Beach Fire Dept)

South Carolina Task Force 2[]

Myrtle Beach FD is the coordinating agency for South Carolina Task Force 2. The department has 11 members deployable with the task force (2023).

South Carolina Hazmat 2[]

Myrtle Beach FD is the coordinating agency for SC-HM2-WMD Hazmat Team. The team deploys 20 members from the department to hazmat events within the Pee Dee Region.

Regional Incident Management Team[]

Myrtle Beach FD is the host agency for the Pee Dee Region Type 3 All-Hazards Incident Management team. The Pee Dee IMT is made up of 28 members.

Mutual Aid[]

MBFD has mutual aid agreements with Horry County Fire Rescue, North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue, Surfside Beach Fire Department, Conway Fire Department, and Myrtle Beach International Airport Fire Department for Fire/EMS services.

Ocean Rescue Team[]

The Myrtle Beach Fire Department has operated an Ocean Rescue Division since 2015. The Ocean Rescue Division provides oversight and support for the 2 private Lifeguard Services that operate in the city (John's Beach Service and Lack's Beach Service). The team consists of dozens of Firefighter/EMT's and Paramedics who are cross trained as USLA Open Water Lifeguards. The team is headed by 3 Full time Ocean Rescue Lieutenants and 1 full time Ocean Rescue Battalion Chief. Ocean Rescue units typically operate from March until October from 11AM-7PM out of stations 2, 3, and 5, with supervisors working year round out of stations 3 and 6. Their fleet consists of Ford Ranger 4x4's, 1 Center Console Boat, 2 Inflatable Rescue Boats, and 3 Jet Skis.

Dispatch[]

The Myrtle Beach Fire Department (MBFD) operates its own radio communications on the Horry County Trunked Radio System, utilizing specific talkgroups for dispatch and tactical operations. The primary dispatch channel is "MBFD Dispatch" (Talkgroup ID 6250), with additional tactical channels "MBFD Tac-2" (6251) and "MBFD Tac-3" (6252) designated for fireground operations. Ocean Rescue operations are coordinated on "MBFD Tac-4" (6253), and channels "MBFD Tac-5" through "MBFD Tac-10" (6254-6259) serve as backup tactical channels. The department also operates additional misc. channels, including Hazmat, Special Events, and Training channels. All MBFD ambulances are dispatched by Horry County Fire Rescue on their 2nd Battalion dispatch channel, "HCFR Tac-2", and via the county's alphanumeric paging system. MBFD's dispatch channels and Tactical channels 2, 3, and 4 are publicly available for listening vis Broadcastify.

Apparatus Roster[]

  • All pump/tank measurements are in US gallons.
  • Shop numbers in brackets after unit assignment.

Fire Station 1 "Midtown Madhouse" - 1250 Mr. Joe White Avenue[]

Engine 1 (2213) - 2015 KME Predator (2000/500/30F) (Ex-Engine 611)
Rescue 1 (2236) - 2012 KME Predator XLFD (500/500) (Ex-Rescue 616)
Squad 1 - 202? Ford F-250 4x4
Battalion 1 - 2023 Ford Expedition 4x4
ALS 1 - (QRV Medic) 2023 Ram 2500 4x4 walk-around utility body (Ex-Squad 1)
HWV 1 - Customized LMTV
Logistics 1 - 201? Ford Transit Van
Utility 1 - 2010 F-250
Boat 1 - 16' Inflatable
Medic 61 (2255) - 2025 Ford F-550 / Frazer
Reserve Medic 61 (2235) - 2022 Ford F-550 / Frazer

Fire Station 2 "Pine Lakes" - 5338 North Kings Highway[]

Engine 2 (2221) - 2015 KME Predator (2000/500/30F) (Ex-Engine 621)
Ocean 2 - 2021 Ford Ranger XL 4x4
Ski 2 - Jet Ski
Medic 62 (2225) - 2025 Ford F-550 / Frazer
Reserve Medic 62 (2245) - 2022 Ford F-550 / Frazer
Reserve Medic 63 - 2016 Ford F-550 / Road Rescue ambulance

Fire Station 3 "Southside Kings" (Training Center) - 2108 South Kings Highway[]

Shared with Horry County Fire Rescue Station 36

Engine 3 (2231) - 2015 KME Predator (2000/500/30F) (Ex-Engine 631)
Squad 3 - 2023 Ford F-250 4x4 w/ Canopy
Safety 3 (2237) - 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4
Ocean 3 - 2021 Ford Ranger XL 4x4
Boat 3 - 16' inflatable boat
Ski 3 - Jet Ski
Utility 3 - 202? Ford F-450 6x4
Ocean Supervisor 41 - 2021 Ford Ranger XL 4x4

MBFD Training Academy[]

Training 1 (Battalion Chief, Training) - 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe [1]
Training 2 (Captain, Fire Training) - 2021 Ford Ranger XL
Training 3 (Captain, EMS Training) - 2021 Ford Ranger XL
USAR Trailer - MBFD Search & Rescue Trailer
SC-TF-2 Trailer - SC Task Force 2 USAR Trailer

Fire Station 4 "Market Common" - 1170 Howard Parkway[]

Truck 4 (2254) - 2025 Pierce Enforcer Notched 7010 6x4 (2000/500/107' Ascendant rear-mount ladder) (SN#42337) (Ex-stock)
Utility 4 - 2010 Ford F-450 6x4
Special Events - 2021 Polaris Ranger Crew w/ EMS Skid & Stretcher
Special Events - 201? Yamaha Viking UTV
IMT - SC Incident Management Type 2 Trailer
Hazmat Trailer (SC-HZMT) -
Support Services Trailer - MBFD trailer

MBFD Maintenance Shop[]

Maintenance 1 - Ford E-350 walk-around utility
(Reserve) (2211) - 2007 KME Predator pumper (2000/500) (Ex-Engine 611)
(Reserve) (2254) - 2005 Ferrara aerial (1500/400/107' rear-mount) (Ex-Truck 654)

Fire Station 5 "Pride of the Northside" - 804 79th Avenue North[]

Engine 5 (2251) - 2015 KME Predator (2000/500/30F) (Ex-Engine 651)
Truck 5 (2264) - 2015 Ferrara Inferno (1500/400/107' rear-mount) (SN#H-5559) (Ex-Truck 654)
Ocean 5 - 2021 Ford Ranger XL 4x4
Ski 5 - Jet Ski
Utility 5 - 2010 Ford F-250

Grande Dunes Marina - Intracoastal Waterway[]

Boat 5 - 21' center console

Fire Station 6 "Hawk's Nest" - 970 38th Avenue North[]

Engine 6 - 2015 KME Predator (2000/500/30F) (Ex-Engine 661)
Truck 6 - 2018 Pierce Velocity (1500/300/100' rear-mount platform) (SN#31736)
Hazmat 6 - 201? F-350 4x4
Utility 6 - 2010 Ford F-250
Ocean Supervisor 42 - 2021 Ford Ranger XL 4x4
Ocean Supervisor 43 - 2021 Ford Ranger XL 4x4
Medic 63 (Seasonal) - 2016 Ford F-550 / Road Rescue

Administration/Other Locations[]

Chief 1 (Chief) - 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe [1]
Chief 2 (Deputy Chief, Administration) - 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe [1]
Chief 3 (Deputy Chief, Operations) - 2022 Ford Expedition [1]
Chief 4 (Division Chief, Special Ops) - 2021 Ford Ranger XL 4x4
Chief 5 (Division Chief, Emergency Ops) - 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe [1]
Chief 6 (Division Chief, Support Services) - 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe [1]
FM 1 (Battalion Chief, Fire Prevention) - 2020 Ford Explorer
FM 2 (Deputy Fire Marshal) - 202? Ford Edge
FM 3 (Deputy Fire Marshal) - 202? Ford Edge
FM 4 (Deputy Fire Marshal) -
FM 5 (Deputy Fire Marshal -
FM 6 (Public Information Officer) - 202? Ford Ranger XL
Outreach 1 (Opioid Outreach Team) -
TS 1 (Technical Services) -
EM 1 (Emergency Manager) - 2021 Ford Ranger XL
EM 2 (Asst. Emergency Manager) -
Guard 902 (South Lifeguard District Supervisor) -
Guard 903 (North Lifeguard District Supervisor) -
Guard 906 (Central Lifeguard District Supervisor) -
Support Vehicle (2108) - 2015 Ford Expedition 4x4 (Ex-Battalion 1)
Support Vehicle (2103) - 2016 Ford Expedition (Ex-Squad 1, Ex-ALS 1))

Apparatus Notes[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Unmarked

On Order[]

  • 5 Pierce pumpers (E1, E2, E3, E5, E6) (expected 2026)
  • 1 107' Pierce aerial (T5) (expected 2025)
  • 1 Pierce walk-in rescue (R1) (expected 2026)

Retired Apparatus[]

(2244) - 2008 KME Predator 6x4 aerial (1500/500/75' rear-mount ladder) (Ex-Truck 644)
(2217) - 2007 International 4400 / KME walk-around rescue (Ex-Squad 3, ex-Rescue 637)
2002 Pierce Dash 2000 walk-around rescue (SN#13019)
2002 Pierce Dash 2000 6x4 aerial (1500/400/75' rear-mount ladder) (SN#12949) (Sold to Howe Springs Fire Rescue)
2002 Pierce Dash 2000 aerial (1500/400/100' rear-mount platform) (SN# 12950)
2002 Pierce Dash 2000 pumper (1500/500/40B) (SN#12869-01) (Sold to Huguley Fire Department)
2002 Pierce Dash 2000 pumper (1500/500/40B) (SN#12869-02) (Sold to Clarks Summit Fire Department)
2002 Pierce Dash 2000 pumper (1500/500/40B) (SN#12869-03) (Sold to Amity Fire & Rescue (Pennsylvania))
2002 Pierce Dash 2000 pumper (1500/500/40B) (SN#12869-04)
2002 Pierce Dash 2000 pumper (1500/500/40F) (SN#12869-05) (Sold to East Lincoln Fire Department (North Carolina))
2002 Pierce Dash 2000 pumper (1500/500/40B) (SN#12869-06)
1998 American LaFrance Eagle / 3D aerial (1500/400/75' rear-mount) (SN#2930; 956006) (Sold to Apple Valley Fire Protection District (California)

Future Plans[]

MBFD has multiple plans for expansion and renovation over the next few years. After the new Station 3 completion, the previous Station 3 will be renovated to become the home of the new MBFD Administration and Training Building. A new Station 1 is expected to begin construction in early 2026, to include 6 apparatus bays and an Emergency Operations Center. A brand new fleet is also on order for the department. Battalion, Squad, Medic, Ocean Rescue vehicles, Truck 4 and Truck 6 have all been replaced in the last few years. A new Ladder Truck is expected in the next year, and 5 new engines and a heavy rescue expected in 2026. Discussion has also begun for the addition of a Station 7 within the next decade.

External Links[]

Station Map[]

Loading map...
Advertisement