A government transparency expert has said the Alvin, Huger, Longridge and Pineville-Russellville departments have disregarded South Carolina law even after the agencies have been given multiple opportunities over three months to make the information public.
In Berkeley County, 26 rural fire departments — which operate as nonprofits — are contracted through the county to provide fire service to unincorporated areas.
Because those departments operate using public money, they are subject to Freedom of Information Act requests.