Falmouth’s Next Possible Bright Idea

Shut Down the Fire Department

After two years of inflating the police budget beyond reason
After floating an ordinance to mandate a certain number of city cops… after proposing to hire a city manager for a town that barely covers 1.3 square miles (1.4 if you count the sidewalks)… here comes the next stroke of genius:

Let’s shut down the fire department.

This, from the same crew who impeached the only mayor to bring a budget surplus to the table, because apparently, good ole boy politics takes priority over solvency.

And all this while Pendleton County plays real estate musical chairs with fire stations no one asked for, buying the old Dollar Store in Butler, then deciding nah, let’s just build a new one. Equipment comes and goes with zero explanation, big air conditioning units and surplus materials just vanish. Some is even bought, never used, and held, covered up in buildings you aren’t supposed to know exist. The math never adds up and nobody seems to care.

Meanwhile, Falmouth floats toward another decision built on convenience, not consequence.

Make no mistake: this is exactly why your vote matters.
This is why the only responsible option this election is to educate yourself thoroughly on who wants your trust, who’s earned it, and who’s been spending it like a blank check.

If they’ll burn the fire department to “save money,” imagine what they’ll cut next.

They Call It “Budget Strain.” We Call It a Pattern.
Now FOX19 reports what locals have been whispering for months: Falmouth may be considering “closure options” for the 100+ year-old Volunteer Fire Department.

The firefighters say the talks are active.
The city says they’re not.
Someone’s lying, or at best, spinning.

Let’s be crystal clear:
This isn’t about nostalgia.
It is about coverage. Accountability. And the hidden costs the public eats when City Hall tries to “save money.”

The fire department operates on just $160,000 a year. Firefighters get $20 per run and often buy their own gear. But suddenly, the city says it can’t afford both police and fire?

What changed?
Where’s the data?
Where’s the plan?

The Word “Free” Always Comes With Fine Print
FOX19 reports Pendleton County’s volunteer fire service is “free to the city.” But in government, “free” usually means someone else pays later, or the service changes behind closed doors.

Less coverage. Slower response. More risk.

The city claims response time “wouldn’t change.”
The department says city coverage would be left hanging if county units are deployed elsewhere.

So… who’s right?

Public Safety Isn’t a Vibe. It’s Data.
If the city is serious about even considering this, then publish the facts:

• Response-time reports by location and shift

• Mutual aid agreements in writing

• Coverage maps and equipment staging plans

• Transition strategy with names, not vague promises

Don’t give residents “rumors.”
Give them receipts.

Because if you close the department and get it wrong, it’s not just politics.
It’s lives, property, and minutes you can’t buy back.

The Insurance Nobody’s Talking About
Falmouth’s current ISO fire insurance rating is 6. Pendleton County’s is 9/10. That’s not a small jump.

If the city’s protection class drops, homeowners and businesses pay the difference quietly over time through higher premiums and lower resilience.

It’s one thing to fight fires.
It’s another to fuel them with bad decisions.

If It’s Just “Rumors,” Then Kill the Rumors. Publicly.
Councilmember Stephen Gales says he’s against closed-door decisions and a town hall would happen first. Great.

Then put it on the agenda.
Publish the options.
Show the numbers.

Open government doesn’t mean waiting until after the damage is done.
It means showing your work before anyone has to ask.

Whisper One Out
Original article link: FOX19 – Falmouth Volunteer Fire Department