Fairfield County Council Recognizes Fairfield County First Responders and Supporting Agencies

Beginning late in the evening of August 16, 2026, Fairfield County faced an extraordinary emergency when a major fire occurred at the HealthCare SC facility in Winnsboro.

For nearly four days, firefighters from across Fairfield County, neighboring fire departments and supporting emergency agencies answered the call. They faced dangerous conditions, long hours and significant challenges — but they never hesitated.

They brought their training, experience, courage, equipment, professionalism and determination to protect lives, property and our community.

This response was much bigger than the firefighters on the front lines. It took an incredible team effort involving EMS personnel, law enforcement, dispatchers, emergency management, public works, utility providers, county and municipal staff, neighboring departments and countless others who provided communications, logistics, traffic control, medical support, equipment, rehabilitation and other essential services.

And behind every responder were families, coworkers, departments, and communities making sacrifices so that help could remain in Fairfield County around the clock.

The Fairfield County Council is proud to recognize and express our profound and heartfelt gratitude to every firefighter, first responder, supporting agency and community partner who played a role in responding to and recovering from this incident.

Your service represents the very best of public service — neighbor helping neighbor, communities working together and South Carolinians standing together in a time of adversity.

To the men and women who answered the call: Thank you. We see you. We appreciate you. And Fairfield County will remember your service.

This will forever remain a meaningful part of Fairfield County’s history and a powerful example of what can be accomplished when we come together.

From Fairfield County: THANK YOU to our firefighters, first responders, families, departments, agencies and every person who helped.