Copyright Charleston Post and Courier
ROCK HILL — A third-generation firefighter who has spent more than two decades in the profession was selected to lead the Rock Hill Fire Department as its new fire chief, city officials announced this week. Ben Grant, who most recently served as deputy chief of operations, was promoted to fire chief and introduced to the community by Rock Hill city manager David Vehaun during a Nov. 4 news conference. “It was important for me that we were able to sit down and talk to all of our firefighters and hear from them about what they were looking for in the next chief,” Vehaun said of the hiring process. Those meetings, along with a number of candidate interviews, led city leaders to select Grant, who will serve as the city’s eleventh fire chief. Grant succeeds former fire chief Mike Blackmon, who retired in July 2025 after 48 years of service. “Standing here today as the newly promoted fire chief of the City of Rock Hill is one of the greatest honors of my life,” Grant said. Seventeen of Grant’s 22 years as a professional firefighter have been in Rock Hill. Grant started his career at age 16 and joined the Rock Hill Fire Department in April 2008, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both Chester firefighters. “The values of service, sacrifice and integrity were instilled in me long before I ever put this uniform on,” Grant said. Following his introduction, Grant’s wife, Brittany Clark Grant, pinned the fire chief badge to his uniform, and they were joined by their three children, Katelyn, Henry and Hunter, for photos. “As I step into this role, my vision is simple — to honor our past, strengthen our present and prepare our future,” Grant said. “We’ll continue to build on the solid foundation laid by those who came before us, focusing on safety, training, innovation and community trust, and that every citizen in Rock Hill knows they can depend on us in their time of need.” Grant will oversee the department’s 142 employees spanning three divisions: Fire Suppression, Fire Prevention/Inspections and Administration. The Rock Hill Fire Department operates six fire stations along with the Headquarters/Rock Hill Fire Museum and the Rock Hill Fire Training Center, where the announcement of Grant’s promotion was held. In his previous role as deputy chief of operations, Grant supervised the suppression division battalion chiefs and responded to all major emergencies, serving as incident commander or public information officer as needed. He’s had a central role in departmental planning, implementation and evaluation of operations. He brings extensive experience in operational leadership, emergency response management, resource deployment and effective communication during critical incidents to the department, city officials said. He earned a bachelor’s degree in fire administration from Columbia Southern University, along with certifications including the South Carolina Chief Fire Officer certification, is a South Carolina Certified Emergency Manager and a National Registered Advanced EMT. In addition to his hands-on work experience, Grant has contributed to firefighter education and training. He has served as an adjunct instructor for the South Carolina Fire Academy and currently is a lead instructor in multiple disciplines within the department.
