BTFD News: Fire District Eyes Property Near Station -Bluffton Today U.S. 278 site could house maintenance facility. The Bluffton Township Fire District is exploring a property purchase that would allow it to consolidate services and functions. International Paper has offered to sell the fire district 5.7 acres of land adjacent to Station 35 on U.S. 278 “at a very reduced price,” Fire Chief Barry Turner told the Beaufort County Development Review Team on Wednesday. Turner and Deputy Chief John Thompson met with the DRT for “discussion only,” seeking some guidance about what the fire district could do with the property. “We haven’t even looked at any funding sources yet. We’re just researching whether or not to purchase the property,” Turner said. DRT members — county personnel from the planning, natural resources, traffic, engineering, zoning and codes enforcement departments — outlined the approval process facing the fire district but didn’t foresee any major roadblocks. Trafficandwetlandsimpacts would need to be addressed, officials said. The fire district would need a “special use” designation from the county Zoning Board of Appeals, which requires a public hearing. The DRT would then address a specific site plan. And the project would be subject to approval by the Southern Beaufort County Corridor Review Board. “There do not appear to be any inordinate hurdles for you to overcome,” said county Planning Director Tony Criscitiello. “The next step for you is a pre-application form … that will give you some guidance for your designer and some good information on whether to purchase the property,” Criscitiello said. “County regulations are what they are and we’re required to enforce them, but there doesn’t appear to be any reason this won’t be approved,” he said. The property is between the existing fire district headquarters at Station 35 and the Indian Hill Baptist Church to the east, Turner said. “Over a year ago we were approached by International Paper regarding property purchase next to the headquarters station on (U.S.) 278,” the chief said. “We were very interested but because of the economic situation we tabled the idea. Now it’s available again at a very reduced price.” Turner said he envisions the property as the site of a maintenance facility to replace one leased by the fire district. “We could have one-stopshopping for everything on one site,” he said. Turner said the proposed maintenance facility could be built on high ground in the center of the property without requiring fill and “the wetlands around us would be advantageous as a buffer.” Fire district use “would actually protect the property from higher traffic volume as a commercial development,” the chief said Firehouse Subs celebrates Rod Oates’ heroism by putting his face on a drinking cup. Bluffton Today Rod Oates is getting a lot of face time these days. The Bluffton firefighter is one of six people selected by Firehouse Subs to be featured on the national restaurant chain’s drinking cups for the next few months. He was chosen from thousands of people for his heroic acts during a January 2007 traffic accident at the intersection of S.C. 46 and U.S. 278. While off duty, Oates helped save three people who were pinned inside a car before the vehicle caught fire. “I saw two females in the front and a male lying down in the backseat,” he said. “The women were hysterical … and I saw a little smoke and flame.” Oates and another bystander were able to pry the jammed doors open and free the people before the passenger compartment of the vehicle caught fire. He received the fire department’s Medal of Valor and now is being toasted by the chain restaurant, which was started by two former firefighting brothers. This is the second year the Jacksonville, Fla.-based company has held the promotion. Oates’ face will appear on cups at some of the 372 locations nationwide. The closest Firehouse Subs to Bluffton are in Savannah. There are two stores, on Victory Drive and Abercorn Street. “It almost felt like a prank call,” Oates said of Firehouse Subs’ interest. “I thought, ‘What is this guy trying to sell me?’” Oates, 27, who has been a firefighter for the past eight years, said he’s honored to have been chosen. But anyone else, firefighter or not, would have done the same, he said. “As former firefighters, my brother and I are honored to give these heroes the recognition they deserve,” said Robin Sorensen, co-founder of Firehouse Subs. “The men and women selected this year represent the extraordinary courage and dedication all firefighters possess, as stories like these go untold every day.” In addition to Oates, honorees represent fire departments in Durham, N.C., and Lake Mary and Ocala, Fla. After rescuing his friend from drowning, a child from Atlanta was chosen as a hero for the kids’ cup. On Thursday, Oates was on duty at Station 35, the main firehouse on U.S. 278. In between calls, Oates’ fellow firefighters lost no time ribbing him about his newfound stardom. “What haven’t we called him?” asked Shawn Fitzpatrick, rhetorically. “Sammy Superstar” was one of the few nicknames we can print. Earlier this year, Oates and his wife, Shana, traveled to Jacksonville, Fla., for a photo shoot. Most of his buddies were campaigning for this article to appear during their next shift — which it won’t, sorry. “If he’s in the paper on Wednesday, then he has to buy us dinner,” said fellow firefighter Matt Baker.