Started in the kitchen of what would become the City of Tega Cay in the 1970s, the Tega Cay Fire Department has expanded over the years to support the city and community at large. With two fire stations and over 24 full, part time and volunteer staff (including 13 lifetime and retired members), they use the latest technology and training to proudly serve our city and its residents.
At the head of the department is Chief Glyn Hasty. Chief Hasty joined the Tega Cay Fire Department in 2019 after a distinguished career with the Charlotte Fire Department. He was drawn to the idea of being a firefighter at a young age.
When he was 16 years old, there was a fire in his neighborhood and he was both impressed and intrigued by the firefighters who were onsite managing the blaze. Shortly thereafter, he joined as a volunteer firefighter in 1985 and went full time in 1990. 
A 29 year career saw him rise through the ranks, gathering fire science and emergency management degrees along the way. His last stop in Charlotte had him managing multiple squadrons responsible for the Charlotte Douglas Airport. Although he loved his job, “it was time for a change,” according to Chief Hasty.
As you can imagine, the taxing schedule and demands of the job can be hard on family life. When he heard about the fire chief opening in Tega Cay and secured the job, Glyn decided it was time to retire from the department in Charlotte and move his wife Caroline and two daughters across the border into South Carolina.
It takes a unique personality to be a firefighter. You have to possess an ability to think on your feet, compartmentalize problems on the fly and also have compassion for those you’re trying to help. As with most leadership positions, being a fire chief requires even more of you.
You need to have management skills with the ability to apply those skills under pressure. You also have to be a great leader and love your people. Chief Hasty certainly displayed all of these qualities on my visit.
Before I could even sit down and talk about him, Chief Hasty wanted to provide me with a tour of the fire house and introduce me to everyone who worked there. My first encounter was with Crystal Wedra, one of 4 female firefighters who work and/or volunteer for the department.
She was kind enough to show me her “bunk” and speak with me a bit about what being a firefighter means to her. As we spoke, I noticed several pictures displayed on her locker of loved ones, all smiling and happy. This was my first reminder of the human side of what it means to take on the task of saving lives.
When I asked Chief Hasty what was the hardest part about being a firefighter and fire chief in particular, it was easy for him to answer, “The hardest part is seeing people lose everything. Days that people perish are tough days for all of us.” Rather than dwell on the negative, he was quick to relay a positive story of the shift currently onsite having saved two lives last year using CPR. “Great days are when we save a life.”
Since becoming fire chief, Glyn and his team of firefighters have made community involvement a priority. In fact, they recently wrapped up Fire Prevention Week. The focus was on the number one cause of preventable fires, cooking in the home. He and his team have also provided workshops at schools and at the fire station, having seen more than 300 kids this year alone.
Currently looking to hire one additional firefighter on staff, Chief Hasty isn’t concerned with the continued growth of our community. He praised the city council for working with him to provide the support he needs when asked. This is both refreshing given our current national political climate and nice to hear to ensure our continued safety.
Although the team does fight fires, 55% of their calls are medical in nature. Chief Hasty spoke of the training he and his team receive on a regular basis. He also mentioned that more than one of the firefighters under his command have second jobs, many of them as EMTs. The training they receive as EMTs provides additional knowledge needed to support the medical calls they receive while at the station.
Chief Hasty was also excited to talk about a new Flat Water Program. The program will provide additional support for lake related incidents requiring fire and rescue assistance. The department has a jet ski and small boat to aid in lake rescues that take place today. The addition of a larger boat will give the department an ability to cover more area and assist with larger scale rescues. 
As I was leaving, Chief Hasty thought it would be a good idea to have a few of the firefighters take me on a ride along. Daniel Dellinger (left), Chris Rose (middle) and Kyle Graffeo (right) were more than happy to help me fulfill a boyhood dream and talk to me about what they do.
We discussed what it’s like to enter a burning house or building, what their families think of their decision to be firefighters and what it means to have a bad day on the job. They were all great to talk to, but it reminded me once again of the human side of the job and the awesome responsibility they’re talked with each day.
Tega Cay, we’re in great hands. Chief Hasty and his team have us surrounded, in a good way. This fully trained unit loves what they do and want to help keep our community safe and secure. Whether you’re on the lake or on land, they have the equipment and knowledge needed to save your life.
Take my word for it. Who better to trust than a certified “ride along” firefighter.
