Message from the Fire Chief
Welcome to Clemson University Fire & EMS website. It is my hope you find our website as a valuable resource, for not only you our citizens, but our visitors alike. Clemson University Fire & EMS (CUFD) is a component of Clemson University Public Safety and operates under the guidance of Clemson University Finance and Operations. Our mission is to: protect life, property and the environment through rapid efficient emergency response, proactive code enforcement, modern fire prevention methods and progressive public education on fire and life safety issues. CUFD has 46 uniformed Fire and EMS personnel devoted to protecting life, property, and the environment through their involvement in fire prevention, firefighting, emergency medical care, and community service.
As a key component to Clemson University’s Public Safety division, the men, and women of CUFD faces a wide array of challenges both on and off campus. Through a comprehensive contract with the City of Clemson, the University’s fire and EMS personnel also provide fire suppression coverage for all city residents and commercial occupancies. Additionally, through mutual aid agreements with Pickens County, the university also assist with medical emergencies for the city as needed.
Clemson University Fire and EMS operates out of two stations, one located on campus at 1521 Perimeter Road (University owned) and station two located 740 Issaquena Trail (City owned). Our equipment is state of the art, well maintained and always ready to respond whenever the need arises. The department maintains three pumpers, two ladder trucks, four ambulances, two brush trucks along with several staff vehicles and UTV’s. Our stations and fleet are maintained inhouse by a logistics and maintenance specialist.
In case you hadn’t heard, Clemson University has a pretty good football team. Because of this, there are at least seven days a year when our population goes from approximately 30,000 to around 130,000. As you might expect, this increase in population mixed with an atmosphere of excitement and celebration tends to significantly increase our call volume and demand for service on those days. For CUFD this means an all-hands-on deck approach, plus we hire back part-time employees to help meet the demand for service during the games. This situation is just another reason why we are so unique here at Clemson University Fire & EMS.
I encourage and welcome you to come by either of our stations if you are in the area and have questions, or just want to pay us a visit. Our department is your department, and we truly appreciate the support we get throughout the year. If I can be of assistance, you at any time, please do not hesitate to contact me.
In service,
Rick Cramer
Fire Chief
