Lugoff Fire Department

Lugoff Fire-Rescue awarded $14,000 grant from Duke Energy.

Grant to provide Intelligent River Bridge Boxes, installed in the Lugoff Fire District

Lugoff, S.C. (June 23, 2026) Duke Energy recently awarded Lugoff Fire-Rescue (LF-R) with a $14,000 grant for four Intelligent River BridgeBox sensors, which are designed to monitor area creek water levels.

The grant, submitted by Battalion Chief Chris Jones, will allow LF-R to obtain up to four Intelligent River BridgeBox sensors that will be installed in strategically located areas along the Twenty-Five Mile Creek and the Buck Creek in the Lugoff Fire District.

After recent flooding events, LF-R began to evaluate better ways to be proactive in monitoring local flooding. This research has led to the Intelligent River BridgeBox system. The Intelligent River BridgeBox system is a proven, deployable technology that mounts to existing bridges and/or poles and uses advanced, non-contact radar to continuously measure water levels with high accuracy. This device, developed by Clemson University, has a small 5” x 4” x 3” form factor that has been deployed at more than 100 sites in South Carolina in partnership with the South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR) and can be mounted above known flood locations.

By delivering frequent, automated water level information, the BridgeBox systems will enable LF-R to detect rapidly rising water levels and anticipate dangerous flooding, and to make faster, data-driven decisions in the field. These sensors will fill critical monitoring gaps between existing gauges, giving the LF-R and regional partners actionable intelligence to improve response times, enhance public safety, and better protect vulnerable communities

Awarded under Duke Energy’s Helping Emergency Response Organizations (HERO) grant program, LF-R was one of 34 nonprofits and government agencies across South Carolina that competitively sought after a total of $500,000 of funding this year. Grants were capped at a maximum request of $20,000.

The South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR) is also pleased to support Lugoff Fire’s interest in securing grant funding to install four sensors, in addition to contributing funding to Clemson University to pilot the program. The Intelligent River BridgeBox system aligns with SCOR’s mission to lessen the impact of disasters on the communities and citizens of South Carolina by enhancing the data used to understand hazard risks. The 2023 Strategic Statewide Resilience and Risk Reduction Plan (Resilience Plan) recommends multiple forms of investment in information infrastructure that will inform and improve water planning, flood forecasting, and flood frequency estimates.

“Thank you to Duke Energy for your continued support of Lugoff Fire Department in obtaining the equipment we need to serve the community” said Fire Chief Chris Spitzer.