Aug. 14, 2026— Town officials, firefighters and community members will break ground on the Town of Fort Mill’s third fire station on August 27, 2026, marking another step forward in the Town’s long-standing commitment to fast, reliable emergency response.
The 10,000-square-foot station will be built at 1655 Masons Bend Drive. The project is funded through Impact Fees and will be built by Leitner Construction, based in Rock Hill, SC. The land was donated to the Town as part of the development agreement for the Masons Bend neighborhood.
“The addition of Fire Station 3 marks another landmark milestone in fire and medical service delivery enhancement for the Town of Fort Mill,” said Fire Chief Chipper Wilkerson. “Improving firefighter/EMT distribution throughout the community reduces response time by minutes when seconds save a life.”
Mayor Guynn Savage said the site was chosen strategically, sitting near a growing mix of residential and commercial development as well as the Catawba River.
“I want to thank Fire Chief Chipper Wilkerson for his leadership and vision in bringing this project to life, as well as Town Council and Town Staff for their continued support in making projects like this possible,” Savage said.
The station will initially be staffed by four full-time firefighters, with the facility built to support up to eight as staffing needs grow. Its two bays can accommodate up to four engines total, giving the Town room to expand operations over time. The station will also house water rescue equipment and include built-in features to support confined space rescue and firefighter bailout training, along with offices, bedrooms and a kitchen for staff on duty.
Wilkerson said the new station will also help improve the ISO rating for nearby residents. Insurance companies use ISO ratings to help set homeowners insurance rates, so a better rating in the area can mean real savings for residents. The Town currently operates two fire stations, at 121 Tom Hall Street and 1245 Fort Mill Parkway. Fire Station 3 will also help ensure continuity of emergency operations if Town Hall or Fire Stations 1 or 2 are ever affected by an emergency or disaster.
Completion is anticipated for Fall 2027.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
