Bluffton Fire chairman could be suspended amid ongoing investigation
The chairman of Bluffton Fire’s oversight board could lose his seat. It is in the hands of the Beaufort County Council who, during their next meeting, will discuss his future in the role.
Rick Krob serves as chairman for the Bluffton Township Fire District’s Board of Commissioners, which is responsible for the general oversight of the district’s policies. Krob was appointed to the board in 2022 and elected as chairman in February 2024.
He now faces the possibility of suspension from the board, although details of why remain unclear. The motion was raised in the aftermath of a closed-door executive session during a county committee meeting held Monday evening.
“The Beaufort County Finance, Administration, and Economic Development Committee moved to forward to County Council at its next meeting whether to suspend or rescind the appointment of Mr. Rick Krob as a member of the Bluffton Township Fire District Board of Commissioners due to allegations of improper actions regarding a pending investigation,” Hannah Nichols, the county’s spokesperson, wrote in a statement Tuesday.
County Council’s next meeting will be held on April 28. An agenda detailing the items to be discussed during that meeting is not yet available.
Nichols could not answer whether or not the motion was related to the ongoing investigation initiated by the county following the sudden replacement of former Fire Chief Paul Boulware in February. Boulware’s employment status was retired and the retirement was voluntary, according to Stephen Combs, spokesperson for the fire district.
The scope of the county’s investigation is still unclear. And since the matters involving both Boulware and Krob are still pending, Beaufort County is unable to comment, said Nichols.
Who is in charge?
The relationship between the fire board, the fire chief and the county can be confusing. Bluffton Fire’s seven-member board of commissioners is appointed by the Beaufort County Council, according to the county’s code of ordinances. The board members serve without pay, the code says.
The fire board makes recommendations to the County Council on matters such as annual operating budgets, expenditures for equipment, personnel, and facilities and other business-related matters of the district, according to its website.
The board is responsible for conducting a yearly evaluation of the chief, but the Beaufort County administrator, Michael Moore, after consultation with the board, ultimately has the authority to make decisions such as promotion or demotion based on the chief’s performance.
Combs reiterated Tuesday that regardless of the leadership changes the fire district faces, they will continue protecting community members.
“The Bluffton Fire District—like many paramilitary organizations—has always operated under the principle of ‘adapt and overcome,’” Combs wrote on Tuesday. “When faced with challenges, we make a conscious decision to rise to the occasion, adjust where needed, and come through stronger than before. That mindset is part of who we are.
No matter the circumstances, our community can continue to count on the unwavering professionalism, dedication, and service of the men and women of the Bluffton Township Fire District. Our commitment to protecting lives and property will never change.”
Messages sent to the Board Tuesday afternoon were not returned before the publication of the story Tuesday evening.
This story was originally published April 22, 2025 at 7:35 PM.
