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For the first time since the Old Cowpens Cotton Mill burned in 1999 the fire department has been forced to return to the former Linda Mill Site to extinguish some pesky rubbish fires. During the week of December 12th through 17th, 2007, the fire department answered no less than six or seven calls to the old mill property and found some of the wood left behind from the fire, buried under some of the collapsed walls burning. The fire department was assisted throughout the week by the Spartanburg County Fire Marshal's Office and the Converse Fire Department. Photos of some of the weeks responses can be found on the Photo Page under 2008 Photos.
For the third consecutive year the Cowpens Fire Department has received the Federal Assistance To Firefighters Grant administered through FEMA. During the past three years the department has received a total of $391,284.00 in Grant Funding. All but $2,800.00 which was received through the South Carolina Forestry Commission, was received through the Federal Assistance To Firefighters from FEMA. Chief Caggiano states, "this money allows us to supplement our annual budget with additional equipment we may not be able to replace or obtain without the assistance." Over the past three years the fire department has been able to purchase the following equipment through the Grant Programs. 2005 - $159,320.00 FEMA Turn Out Gear / Cover-Alls / Cascade System / Thermal Imager SCBA's / R.I.T. Packs 2006 - $105,564.00 FEMA Station Generator / Plymovent System / Turn Out Gear Washer & Dryer 2006 - $2,800.00 South Carolina Forestry Commission Leather Firefighting Boots 2007 - $125,000.00 FEMA New Mini Pumper/Brush Truck Total Received To Date $389,884.00
On Monday July 20th, 2007 at 1215 hours the Cowpens Fire Department received a call for a commercial structure fire at 5025 South Main St. Initial response from the Cowpens Fire Department was two engines, a ladder, and a service company supported by 10 personnel. Automatic Aid Companies from Converse and Drayton Fire Departments brought in four more engines and another ladder company along with approx. 10 more personnel. Upon arrival crews encountered a well involved structure fire in the rear 1/3 of the 75,000 square foot single story structure. Multiple 5" supply lines were laid and an aggressive exterior attack with ground monitors and ladder pipes was started. Within a couple of hours the fire was contained to the original area of origin and little or no extension was found. The aggressive tactics utilized that day by initial responding companies of the Cowpens, Converse, and Drayton Fire Departments held the fire in check until additional resources arrived from surrounding departments and other agencies. Below are a list of other fire departments and agencies that assisted throughout the afternoon and into the evening.
Cowpens / Converse / Drayton / Mayo / Whitney / Croft / Arkwright Pacolet / Goucher White Plains / Macedonia / Glendale
Chesnee (at Cowpens Station) / Glendale (at Converse Station) Spartanburg City Station 5 (for Drayton)
Spartanburg County EMS / Ambustar
Cowpens Police Department / Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office South Carolina Highway Patrol
Spartanburg County Fire Marshal / Spartanburg County Emergency Services Spartanburg County Communications Department Spartanburg County Roads & Bridges / South Carolina D.O.T. D.H.E.C. / Spartanburg County F.I.T. Team / Spartanburg Water System Duke Energy / Piggly Wiggly of Cowpens / Burger Barn of Cowpens Ladies Auxiliary From Cowpens / Converse / Drayton Fire Departments
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