KERSHAW COUNTY, S.C. — The Lugoff Fire Department says they need to upgrade 62 radios, and if they don't, it will leave the department in a dire situation.
"If our radios are not replaced, we have no communication whatsoever," said Lugoff Fire Chief Chris Spitzer. "We will not be able to communicate. It is a dire situation."
Spitzer says it's a change in his department and all other emergency agencies were made aware of back in 2020.
Spitzer says he's been working to have Kershaw County Council pass the allocation of funds through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) but so far, nothing has happened. And the longer they wait, the longer he worries it will take to pay for and receive them.
"The radio backlog as of right now is 2 years if we order the radios," Spitzer said. "This radio here is what 95% of my fire department carries. We no longer can get any parts for these radios, nothing can be fixed. So, if this radio goes down, we don't have any spares."
And the prices continues to rise. "Since this was introduced, by Councilman Jones, September of 2021 to October of 2022, the cost of radios has gone up 8%," Spitzer said.
News 19 spoke with Kershaw County Council Member Jimmy Jones about what's next.
"They sent it back to the finance committee," Jones said. "I think a member of the county council chair had it on the agenda and sent it back, it should have already been before the council."
Once the finance committee provides its recommendation to council, Jones said they will move forward with a vote.