Laurens County Council has authorized the naming of the Ekom Fire Station in western Laurens County for the late Michael “Mike Mike” Vinson.
Vinson died last Easter when the City of Clinton fire engine he was driving collided with a vehicle at the Springdale Drive Hwy 56-72 business intersection, at the National Guard Armory. Vinson was a full-time Laurens County firefighter and a part-time Clinton firefighter.
He started his career at the Ekom station when he was 15 as an Explorer.
Vinson’s uncle and his father were chief of that fire station, said Greg Lindley, Laurens County Fire Service director.
“This was where Mike Mike came up,” Lindley told the County Council at its Monday evening meeting. Lindley said current and former members of the Ekom station had been contacted about the naming, which has been done before by the Fire Service.
Council’s authorization of the naming came on a 7-0 vote at the council’s regular monthly meeting. Also in the 1 hour and 23-minute meeting, which was preceded by a closed session and followed by a budget workshop, Council named Melissa Ferqueron, the assistant county administrator, as the interim county administrator, effective May 19. She replaces Thomas Higgs who is taking the administrator job in Colleton County (Walterboro). The vote was 6-0-1, with council vice-chairman Matthew Brownlee abstaining.
Council proclaimed National Police Week, Emergency Medical Services Week, and Building Safety Month. It passed its Council Rules after a robust debate about how to handle the public comments section of meetings, so that the comments time does not overshadow getting agenda business done. Council gave approvals to an Agriculture Board, an industrial incentive for Project Armor in the Hunter Industrial Park (Laurens), and a $4 Million bond issuance to make improvements to the Johnson Detention Center and the Animal Shelter, and approved the county’s first Fireworks Prohibited Zone for Garrison’s Arena in Fountain Inn.
Council also heard an emotional “see you soon” message from departing county administrator Thomas Higgs.
This is more about an honor for Firefighter Michael Vinson:
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF)
EMMITSBURG, Md. – The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) will host the 44th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend on May 3-4, 2025 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. This year’s national tribute will honor 70 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2024 and 70 firefighters who died in previous years. The honorees will include the following South Carolina firefighters:
Firefighter Landon Cale Bodie, age 18, and Chief Chad Satcher, age 53, of the Circle Fire Department - Saluda County Fire Service, died on September 27, 2024, when a tree fell on the cab of their fire apparatus during a response to a call related to Hurricane Helene.
Chief Chad Satcher, age 53, and Firefighter Landon Cale Bodie, age 18, of the Circle Fire Department - Saluda County Fire Service, died on September 27, 2024, when a tree fell on the cab of their fire apparatus during a response to a call related to Hurricane Helene.
Engineer Michael “Mike Mike” Vinson, age 27, of the Clinton Fire Department, died on March 31, 2024, died in an apparatus accident on the way to a medical call.
Detailed information about each of the 226 firefighters being memorialized can be found on the 2025 Roll of Honor.
“This weekend is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary courage and commitment of those who put their lives on the line to protect others,” said Troy Markel, Chair of the NFFF Board of Directors. “We come together not only to remember the fallen, but to stand in solidarity with their families and departments, letting them know their loved ones will never be forgotten."
“Each of these 140 firefighters made the ultimate sacrifice in service to others – a profound sacrifice that defines true heroism,” said Victor Stagnaro, CEO of the NFFF. “Memorial Weekend is a time for our nation to come together to honor their bravery, to stand beside their families, and ensure their legacy lives on in every community they so selflessly served.”
There are two events open to the public at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park on the grounds of the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) during Memorial Weekend.
· The National Fallen Firefighters Candlelight Service is on May 3 at 7:30 pm ET and will be hosted by Fire Captain Garon Mosby of the St. Louis Fire Department.
· The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service is on May 4 at 10:00 am ET and will be hosted by actor Jeremy Holm.
Fire service and government leaders are scheduled to address the thousands of attendees at the Memorial Service on Sunday, May 4. The NFFF will live stream both events on the NFFF’s website (firehero.org), YouTube channel, and Facebook page.
There are additional events during Memorial Weekend provided exclusively for the families and fire departments of honored firefighters. These include small group sessions and other activities throughout Friday and Saturday; they are open to the families and coworkers of newly honored and previously honored firefighters.
