Howe Springs Fire Rescue helps western North Carolina community ravaged by Helene

FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) — Hurricane Helene ravaged much of the Southeast, including western North Carolina and South Carolina’s Upstate, and one Florence County fire department did their best to help with relief efforts.

“What people remember most is someone who helped them in hard times,” Florence County posted Thursday on Facebook. “In this case, Howe Springs Fire Rescue helped a small community that is recovering from Hurricane Helene.”

Swannanoa in Buncombe County, North Carolina, was one of many places in western North Carolina to feel Helene’s wrath. The community wasn’t receiving much help — until Howe Springs Fire Rescue learned about their needs and stepped into action.

“We wanted to do something, and so we started collecting material, put it out on our social media and it was shared tremendously,” Chief Billy Dillon said in the Facebook video. “We started receiving goods, and within less than one week, we had two enclosed trailers slam full and 14 pallets on a flatbed that we were able to take to the western part of North Carolina.”

Residents of Swannanoa, whose population is about 5,000, were grateful for the assistance from the Pee Dee crew.

“That’s what it’s all about. Helping our neighbors, helping people in need,” Dillon said. “But it wasn’t just Howe Springs. Howe Springs was just a collection point like many other churches and other community groups around Florence. It’s the actual citizens that, they get in their car, they go to Sam’s, they go to Walmart, and they purchase items that are needed.”

“Then they drive all the way here and drop it off. We just collect it and take it,” Dillon continued. “Which is a big — don’t get me wrong, I’m very proud of our people because it was a lot of work. It was a lot of work. But it’s the citizens that made it possible. If we didn’t have the donations, there wouldn’t have been nothing to take.”

Dillon said his help will not stop, and encouraged everyone to continue supporting relief efforts after the storm killed more than 230 people in six states.

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Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here .

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