Irmo & Columbia

It’s hard to describe Chief Sonefeld and the Irmo Fire District's influence on my life, but I can confidently say I wouldn’t be who I am without them. From being the very first fire department to trust me with a camera, sponsoring me to attend the South Carolina Fire Academy, and helping navigate my termination and appeal… Irmo changed my life for the better. For those reasons and so many more that I don’t have the words to articulate, it’s always an honor to be able to document the work Irmo does. For this call in particular, I had just stopped at Columbia’s Station Seven to see Captain Cartee when the tones dropped for a working fire. Though Truck 7 didn’t end up doing work at this call, being in the neighborhood provided the chance to buff while I was passing through!

PS. A special thanks to Captain Cartee for being another firefighter who went out of his way to help me with something completely unrelated to the fire service. — To anyone who says the brotherhood is dying, you’re surrounded by the wrong people.