Cicero has two separate fire stations, each of them on opposite sides of the I-81. They operate mainly out of the newest one, but he says having both comes in handy when accidents block the freeway, and one of the crews isn't able to assist. Even then, Barrett says other departments are ready and willing to help.

"We shut off the electric. We'll try to take out the gas; we can do that from outside, your gas meter very easily so we don't have to go inside of a structure, and then we'll go investigate at that point,” he continued.

The study looked at the 25 fire departments serving Berkeley County’s roughly 211,000 people.

“We know we have problems with a lot of things, but 911 is the first and possibly the last number you’ll ever call and it’s our responsibility as Berkeley county government to make sure those resources are there,” said Gunn.

Officials hope the report will begin the change needed to constructively move ahead.