Police & Fire

Police and fire services are provided by the Department of Public Safety from five stations located throughout the Aiken service area. You may notice that, in Aiken, this is a combined service. The Department offers fire and crime prevention, traffic control and patrol services, maintenance of traffic signals and signs, hazardous materials response, and investigations. Aiken also has an active Community Policing (PACT) program, with officers on foot, bicycle, and motorized patrol.

The Aiken Department of Public Safety has been recognized nationally for quality police and fire services. The Department’s fire services are rated by the Insurance Service Organization (ISO), and your fire insurance costs on your home or business are based on the rating at the local fire department. Under the ISO rating system, a Class 1 is the highest rating, and Class 10 generally means that your property is unprotected. Aiken received the first ISO Class 2 rating in South Carolina, and was the first public safety operation in the country to reach Class 2.

The City also provides fire service outside of the City as a self-supporting service – properties located outside of the City but within Aiken’s fire district, and served by the City’s water system, pay a monthly fee for fire service based on the value of property served. Properties not served by the City’s water system, but receiving fire service, are billed quarterly for service at a flat rate. Properties located outside of the City but receiving the City’s fire protection receive the same savings on the cost of fire insurance with the Class 2 rating as City residents.

The Department has also achieved tremendous recognition for police services as one of the relatively few departments to receive national accreditation as a law enforcement agency. Accreditation means that the Department meets national standards for performance, training, and policy. Accreditation is a tremendous accomplishment for any department.