Funeral services set for second SC firefighter who was killed during Hurricane Helene

Funeral arrangements for both of the firefighters that a rural South Carolina county lost during Hurricane Helene have been announced.

The two members of the volunteer-staffed Circle Fire Department in Saluda County died Sept. 27 when a tree fell on their fire engine en route to a structure fire. They are believed to be the first two firefighters in the county to be killed in the line of duty.

The service for Landon Bodie, an 18-year-old from Leesville, will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Batesburg-Leesville High School Fine Arts Center with interment following in the Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2-3 p.m. before the service at the fine arts center.

“He was a recent graduate of Blythewood High School, where he was an active member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and developed a love for agriculture,” Bodie’s obituary details . “His passion for working with his hands led him to spend countless hours alongside his grandfather, Wayne Bodie, honing his carpentry skills and creating memories that will be cherished forever. Landon had a deep connection with the outdoors, enjoying hunting and fishing in his spare time. In addition to his many hobbies, Landon dedicated his time to serving others as a volunteer firefighter with the Circle Fire Department.”

Arrangements for Chad Satcher, a 53-year-old from Leesville who became chief of the Circle Fire Department in January 2023 and served there for 35 years, were previously announced. His funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Batesburg-Leesville High School Fine Arts Center with interment following at Ridge Crest Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 4-6 pm. Friday at Milton Shealy Funeral Home of Batesburg.

“A licensed plumber by trade, Chad worked as a foreman for Derrick Plumbing since 1992. He balanced his professional life with an unwavering passion for firefighting amassing over thousands of hours of training throughout his career,” Satcher’s obituary details . “Chad was highly respected within the firefighting community, earning the prestigious title of Circle Fire Department ‘Fireman of the Year’ on numerous occasions from 1992 to 2022. Additionally, he was awarded by the Saluda County Fire Service as ‘Firefighter of the Year’ in 2017.”