The West Columbia Fire Department is a professional unit that is ready to respond at all hours of the day, every day of the year. The WCFD provides fire protection to the City’s 18,000-plus citizens in its footprint of almost 9 square miles. and the WCFD is often called to assist fire departments in surrounding municipalities as a part of its mutual-aid agreement.

How good is the WCPD? Through rigorous training the WCFD has achieved an ISO rating of 1.

“Our ISO rating is the highest obtainable rating,” said WCPD Chief Marquis Solomon. “The rating is awarded by the Insurance Services Office, indicating superior fire protection services within a community.”

The ISO 1 rating represents a rare, elite status that often results in lower insurance premiums for property owners.

Solomon said an ISO 1 rating signifies exceptional capabilities in firefighting, staffing, equipment, and training. He gives credit to the personnel of the WCFD.

“I’m very proud of our guys, they work hard, they’re engaged, and they never complain. A very good group. 

West Columbia is bordered by the Lower Saluda and Congaree rivers. It’s also in the backyard of Riverbanks Zoo, with the entrance to the Botanical Gardens in West Columbia. Because of its proximity to so many natural and constructed features, West Columbia firefighters are highly trained in many types of rescue operations.

In September of 2025, the West Columbia Fire Department’s Technical Rescue Team joined the Columbia Fire Department’s Swift Water Team for a special training session at the new Saluda Skyride at Riverbanks Zoo. Riverbanks’ Skyride, or aerial gondola system, connects the Zoo to the Botanical Garden in West Columbia. WCPD firefighters trained in the rescue of gondola Skyride users in the event of an emergency.

“We’re the only fire department in the state where a whole is trained in gondola rescue,” Solomon said. “A portion of the Columbia Fire Department is trained in gondola rescue. And we’ll have our whole department trained in the unique type of gondola rescue later this year.”

Solomon also said almost all WCPD firefighters are EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) or Paramedics, who provide prehospital care before an ambulance arrives at an emergency scene.

And that’s not all!

“In addition to all of their other qualifications,” Solomon said. “Our personnel train year-round, on the Congaree River, in Swift Water Rescue. We conduct confined space rescue training, too.”

The West Columbia Fire Department-Technical Rescue Team has also teamed with Safe Rigging Solutions at Williams-Brice Stadium for a Rope Rescue Specialist course to learn how to navigate technical rescue emergencies, like the event of an unresponsive construction worker who is suspended high above the ground and cannot be reached by co-workers.

“We’re in the middle of a bustling metropolitan area,” Solomon said. “Emergencies are a daily event. We take our responsibility very seriously, and we want to be prepared and trained to deliver the highest-quality emergency response possible, no matter the situation.”

So if you live in West Columbia, be thankful you have such dedicated and well-trained emergency teams serving you. They want to be there for you in times of crisis.