WrittenBy Lauren Brooks Johnson

Photographsby Glenn Barnette

TheTown of Sullivan’s Island Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department boasts a64-year legacy and an annual fish fry to boot.

Whenan emergency call rings into the Town of Sullivan’s Island Fire and RescueStation, it might be a beach-going child who’s lost his parents, a car accidentalong Middle Street, a furious house fire, or a swimmer stranded on asandbar—the reasons for an alarm are always changing. But the army of volunteerresponders on the scene remains constant and has since the division began in1948. Sure, many have come and gone from the force (two original volunteers dostill “answer the radio and cook fish at the annual fry,” laughs 89-year-oldWilliam “Red” Wood), but the dedication in these comrades has stayed constant.They’re a bit like family that way.

Infact, the 41 businessmen, contractors, doctors, lawyers, and students whosupplement the squad’s paid staff have formed a sort of generational ladderover the last 64 years. Wood remembers boyhood rides with his uncle, avolunteer firefighter in North Charleston. Chief Anthony Stith followed in theboot steps of his father, the department’s first volunteer chief. And KevinTownsend, who watched an off-duty fireman perform CPR for more than an hourfollowing his father’s heart attack, eventually found purpose in the tragedy,recognizing his chance to help save others.

“WhenI began here, all of a sudden I had a second, third, and fourth father figure,”says Townsend, now volunteer president. Lucky for the Lowcountry, theseservicemen protect island residents as if they, too, were kin.

Andon June 30, from 5 to 8 p.m., locals have a chance to repay the favor at theannual fish fry. First held in 1949 to raise money for Wood’s wife’s aunt aftershe suffered a brain aneurysm, the event now takes place at Middle Street’sFish Fry Shack the last Saturday of every June and garners funds for newequipment and vehicle maintenance. Find details at www.sullivansisland-sc.com.

EVENT INFO: 5-8PM, Saturday, June 30, 2012: SI Fire & Rescue Fish Fry, Under the "Big Tin" (Fish Fry Shack, next to Fort Moultrie)

$5/plate for fried fish, puppies and fixins' (hot dogs available for non-fish eaters). Highlights include Jump Castle and live band/

Tickets available at Fire Department, Town Hall, Piggly Wiggly (Sea Island Shopping Center, Mt. Pleasant) and Simmons Seafood

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