Horry County Fire & Rescue: Full Guide to Services & Station Locations

Table of Contents#

1. Overview of Horry County Fire Rescue (HCFR)
2. Core Services Offered by HCFR
3. Curated List of HCFR Station Locations by Region
4. How to Contact HCFR: Emergency and Non-Emergency Requests
5. Frequently Asked Questions
6. References

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Overview of Horry County Fire Rescue (HCFR)#

Established on July 1, 2001, through the merger of the county's separate fire and emergency medical services (EMS) departments, HCFR serves 1,255 square miles of unincorporated Horry County, plus partner municipalities without their own dedicated fire departments. (Note: Independent municipal fire departments, such as those in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway, as well as the Murrells Inlet-Garden City Fire District, operate separately from HCFR). The agency operates on a dual mission: to respond to emergency calls 24/7, and to proactively reduce risk for residents and visitors through community education and prevention programs.

HCFR’s response portfolio covers everything from residential structure fires and medical emergencies to hurricane search and rescue and hazardous material spills, making it one of the largest and most versatile public safety agencies in South Carolina.

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Core Services Offered by HCFR#

HCFR provides a wide range of emergency and non-emergency services tailored to the unique needs of Horry County’s coastal, suburban, and rural communities:

2.1 Fire Suppression & Prevention#

• Emergency Fire Response: Teams respond to residential, commercial, vehicle, and wildfire calls 24/7. Given Horry County’s high risk of fast-spreading wildfires in dry, windy conditions and frequent lightning strikes, HCFR maintains dedicated wildfire response units across rural and suburban regions.
• Prevention & Code Compliance: The HCFR Fire Marshal’s Office conducts mandatory fire safety inspections for commercial properties, rental units, and new construction projects, reviews fire safety plans for public events, and issues burn permits for outdoor fires.
• Free Smoke Detector Program: Eligible low-income residents can request free smoke detector installation and battery replacement services to reduce home fire risk.

2.2 Emergency Medical Response#

HCFR is the primary provider of Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) emergency medical services and ambulance transport throughout Horry County. All frontline personnel are trained as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) or Paramedics, and teams provide life-saving care for heart attacks, strokes, traumatic injuries, motor vehicle accidents, and coastal emergencies. While daily beach lifeguard patrols are managed by the Horry County Police Department (HCPD) Beach Patrol and private lifeguard services, HCFR's specialized Marine Rescue and Dive Teams provide critical water rescue and emergency response support.

2.3 Specialized Rescue Operations#

HCFR maintains highly trained teams for high-risk, specialized incidents:

• Water Rescue: Swift water rescue teams respond to flood incidents during hurricanes and heavy rain events, while coastal water rescue teams respond to boating accidents, rip current rescues, and missing swimmer calls.
• Technical Rescue: Teams trained in high-angle rescue, trench rescue, and building collapse response support construction sites and disaster response efforts.
• HazMat Response: Certified hazardous materials teams contain and clean up chemical spills, gas leaks, and post-hurricane hazardous waste incidents.
• K9 Accelerant Detection & Fire Investigation: HCFR's Fire Investigation Unit utilizes a certified accelerant detection canine (K9 Crosby, trained through the State Farm® Arson Dog Program) to detect traces of accelerants at fire scenes. (Note: General K9 Search and Rescue for missing persons is supported by Horry County Search and Rescue, a separate volunteer non-profit organization).

2.4 Community Outreach & Education#

HCFR offers free and low-cost public education programs for all age groups:

• Fire station tours for school groups, scout troops, and families
• CPR and first aid certification classes for residents and business employees
• Fire safety workshops for senior centers, apartment complexes, and local schools
• Annual hurricane preparedness events to help residents plan for storm season

2.5 Emergency Management Support#

HCFR works closely with the Horry County Emergency Management Department during large-scale disasters, including hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. Responsibilities include supporting evacuation orders, staffing emergency shelters, conducting post-disaster damage assessments, and leading search and rescue operations in impacted areas.

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Curated List of HCFR Station Locations by Region#

Below is a curated list of key HCFR stations sorted by region for easy reference. Note that HCFR uses the unified non-emergency dispatch line (843) 915-5350 for general station inquiries. For the full, up-to-date list of stations and to find the station closest to your address, use the official HCFR station locator linked in the references section.

3.1 North Myrtle Beach & Northern County Stations#

3.2 Myrtle Beach & Central County Stations#

3.3 Conway & Western County Stations#

3.4 Murrells Inlet & Southern County Stations#

The southern coastal areas of Horry County are served by a mix of departments. The independent Murrells Inlet-Garden City Fire District (MIGCFD) serves Murrells Inlet and Garden City, while Midway Fire Rescue serves Pawleys Island (in neighboring Georgetown County). However, HCFR operates several stations in the unincorporated southern areas bordering these communities:

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How to Contact HCFR: Emergency and Non-Emergency Requests#

• Emergency Calls (fires, medical emergencies, active hazards, wildfires): Call 911 immediately, 24/7.
• General Non-Emergency Line: (843) 915-5350, available 24/7 for non-life-threatening concerns, including reports of small contained brush fires, minor gas leaks, or questions about services.
• Non-Emergency Service Requests: For fire inspection requests, smoke detector installations, station tour bookings, or CPR class registration, you can submit a request via the official HCFR online portal or email [email protected].

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Frequently Asked Questions#

Q: Does HCFR provide free smoke detectors for residents?#

A: Yes, HCFR offers free smoke detectors and professional installation for eligible low-income Horry County residents. Request service via the non-emergency line or online portal.

Q: Are HCFR stations open for public tours?#

A: Yes, free station tours are available for groups, families, and school groups by appointment. Submit a request at least 2 weeks in advance via the HCFR website.

Q: Does HCFR provide ambulance transport to hospitals?#

A: Yes, Horry County Fire Rescue is the primary provider of emergency medical services (EMS) and ambulance transport for the county. Equipped with a fleet of Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances, HCFR crews treat and transport patients to local hospitals. (Note: Because tax revenues do not cover the full cost of EMS transport, Horry County charges a fee for ambulance transport, managed by a third-party billing contractor).

Q: What should I do if I see a small wildfire in Horry County?#

A: Call 911 immediately, even if the fire appears small. Coastal winds can spread wildfires rapidly, and untrained individuals are at high risk of injury when attempting to extinguish wildfires.

Q: How can I sign up for a CPR class with HCFR?#

A: Upcoming CPR and first aid class dates, pricing, and registration links are posted on the HCFR events calendar on the official county website. Classes are open to all members of the public.

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References#

1. Horry County Government. (2026). Horry County Fire Rescue. Retrieved from https://www.horrycountysc.gov/departments/fire-rescue/
2. Horry County Government. (2026). Horry County Fire Rescue Station Map. Retrieved from https://www.horrycountysc.gov/departments/fire-rescue/station-map/
3. Horry County Emergency Management. (2026). Emergency Management. Retrieved from https://www.horrycountysc.gov/departments/emergency-management/