Matt McDowell is a Captain for the Bluffton Township Fire District (SC), Instructor for the South Carolina Fire Academy, President of the Lowcountry FOOLS. He has a degree in fire administration and teaches firefighting, rapid intervention and firefighter survival both locally and statewide. He has previously served as Training Officer for Hardeeville Fire/Rescue (SC) and as a Firefighter for the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Justin Cunningham- Lieutenant, Hilton Head Island Fire/Rescue
Chris Garniewicz is a Captain with the Bluffton Township Fire District where he is assigned to Truck 375. He has a BS degree from Northeastern University and is an IFSAC Instructor II. Captain Garniewicz has worked as an Adjuct Instructor for the South Carolina Fire Academy, teaching Truck Company Operations and Basic Auto Extrication. Prior to joining Bluffton 15 years ago, Captain Garniewicz volunteered in Massachusetts.
AJ Halloway- Columbia FD
Jason (JJ) Joannides is a firefighter with the City of Columbia, assigned to Ladder Company 7. He has his associate’s degree from UNC-Charlotte and is a certified Instructor with the South Carolina Fire academy, where he works part-time since 2007. JJ’s passion in his career has been Truck Company Operations, traveling from New York to Florida taking multiple courses in Truck ops, Aerial operations and VES classes along with RIT ops and Mayday courses. He is a Founding member of Palmetto FOOLS
Chris Kip- Battalion Chief, Columbia FD
Greg Mundy- Deputy Chief, Irmo Fire District
Nice site. Glad to see we’ve got some more Lowcountry representation on here. It’s beginning to look like our area is the second coming of the Beltway Bandits Circa 1980-1990. Keep in touch!
Thanks. I like your site also. I agree, it’s good to see some positive things coming from this area’s fire service. Sorry for the late reply!
Great site, I am glad I found it. Very proud of you brother!!!
Bluffton…hell I am up here in Roanoke working with an ex-Bluffton guy. Jeremy Bennington is a great friend of mine and we went through recruit school up here after he left there almost 11 years ago.
Thanks for checking out the site. I think I met Jeremy at the C9 Memorial Service and have heard stories about him from Grubby and Walter (he’ll know). Thanks again and be safe.
Hey Brother, thanks for checking out the site. Just so you know, I am probably going to steal your quote and put it on the site. Hope the family is doing well. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Nice work Matt. I haven’t visited in some time, but this site will now be added to my favorites. This blog has come a long way and has one of the best messages to be had.
Great work!!!
Good to hear from you. I hope everything is well and thanks for the feedback.
Hey Matt thanks for the link on blogroll, I look forward to working with you in the future.
Matt it has been a long time bro. Great site.
Matt-EXCELLENT 9/11 piece! Drop me an email when you have a sec so we can catchup-thanks Bro,
BillyG
Matt – Excellent site. It’s always gratifying to see a Hyattsville VFD alumnus making a positive impact on the fire service.
Chief Emeritus Don Moltrup, Hyattsville VFD
Chief,
I wouldn’t be able to have this site without the experiences I had (personally and professionally) at HVFD. Thank you.
Matt McDowell
Added a link to your site on mine. Keep up the good work.
http://www.hpfirefighter.com
I know you, where have I seen you. LOL
Matt, just wanted to say thanks for the awesome training the you and your team provided this weekend at the SEFS. Your tips and ideas and the way it was throughly explained and demostrated was nothing short of excelant. I can’t wait to take what I’ve learned back to the guys in my department. Thanks again guys and I look forward to training with you all again soon. Be S.A.F.E
I took the VES class held at SCFA on March 9-10. This was an awesome class and I learned a ton of awesome stuff to take back and share. Anyone who has an opportunity should deffinately put this class on thier list. Thanks for a great weekend!