Five Pee Dee fire departments send firefighters upstate after Helene

FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) — Five Pee Dee fire departments are teaming up to support Upstate residents impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Crews from Howe Springs, Hannah-Salem-Friendfield, Windy Hill, Olanta and Sardis-Timmonsville left earlier this week en route to Greenville and Pickens counties through a statewide mutual aid agreement that helps get crews to strategic locations following disasters.

Combined, the volunteer departments sent 10 people including engine and ladder companies.

“They still have a lot of areas they haven’t even made access to. There are still families that are trapped in their homes, just due to roads not being opened,” Howe Springs chief Billy Dillon said. “A lot of our personnel are not only answering calls for those departments but working on clearing roadways and making access to families.”

The crews are expected back at their home stations by week’s end.

Before assisting the Upstate, North Carolina and Tennessee, Dillon said his team with worked with other agencies to help Florence County residents.

“Any time a storm comes through, we’re out there with the DOT and the county public works clearing roads, making sure people have access to get away from their residence if needed,” he said.

Rescuers and Upstate residents are in a dangerous situation, with no cell phone service or easy way to contact first responders.

But Dillon said Pee Dee volunteers were happy to help.

“That’s what makes us feel good about it. They took an oath to serve and protect their citizens. Most of the firefighters in those areas, that’s where their families are at,” Dillon said. “So they’re kind of devastated themselves. We’re able to go in and help and take some of that stress off of them.”

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Skylar Musick is a multimedia journalist at News13. Skylar is originally from Long Island, New York. She joined the News13 team in June 2024 after graduating from Villanova University in May 2024. Follow Skylar on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook , or Instagram , and read more of her work here .

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