James L. Story
Training Officer

James Story has been serving the Orangeburg County Fire District since December 1, 2025, and has been in the fire service since 2011. He began his career as a volunteer firefighter and has since gained experience across every facet of emergency services. His background includes serving in both career and volunteer fire departments, staffing Emergency Operations Centers during large-scale disasters, and working as an EMT for multiple 911 transport agencies . He has also held multiple Training Officer positions throughout his career and previously served as a Captain and Training Officer for the Town of Moncks Corner. He also works as an adjunct instructor and evaluator with the South Carolina State Fire Academy. Through this he has taught classes across the state of South Carolina, contributing to the advancement of fire service training statewide.

In his role as Training Chief, his responsibilities include:

The development, coordination, and delivery of training programs for more than 400 firefighters across 21 departments

Oversight and management of the Orangeburg County Fire District Training Center

Development and implementation of curriculum, policies, and training standards to enhance operational readiness

Coordination of district-wide training initiatives, including live fire training and burn team development

Ensuring compliance with ISO recommendations and maintaining accurate training records and documentation

Providing instruction and mentorship to firefighters and officers at all levels

James holds a Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management and maintains extensive experience in fire service instruction, program management, and curriculum development. He is currently working towards a Master’s Degree in Education, focused in curriculum development. He is certified as an IFSAC/ProBoard Firefighter II, Pump Operator, Fire Officer II, ISFSI Live Fire Instructor, Fire Instructor III, as well as a Liaison Officer and Nationally Registered EMT (NREMT), in addition to holding several other specialty certifications. James also serves on multiple Subject Matter Expert (SME) committees, contributing to the development of IFSAC and ProBoard-accredited courses

He is a proud father of two daughters, and when he is not at work, he enjoys spending time with his family; often on a cruise ship, enjoying the sun and sights together.