By Stewart Voegtlin
February 08, 2006 06:50 pm
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When Flovilla Fire Chief Glenn Williams took to the podium for his presentation to the Flovilla City Council at its monthly meeting last week, he addressed matters of minor equipment maintenance, and detailed some of the more important points of the Flovilla Fire Department’s 2005 Annual Report.
“Tanker 23 has not operated all year,” Williams told the Council. “It needs new tires and a battery – some serious money needs to be spent on it. I don’t anticipate us needing it, but it’s good to have that option. Tanker 22 has a bad wheel, and the leaf blower isn’t working.
“As for what the department has in mind – our goals for the future – some of them are realistic and can be met, but money makes the world go ‘round, and that’s just the way it is. We’re looking to replace the tankers, and we hope that’s something that Mayor Harvey Norris can ask for with this next Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.
“Overall, house fires haven’t increased, but medical calls have 100 fold. You can see that for yourself in the Annual Report,” said Williams. “I do want to say that I’m proud of the Flovilla Fire Department, and I want to thank the Council, Mayor Norris, and Council Member Catherine Watson.”
The Flovilla Fire Department currently has 13 members, nine of which have completed their basic firefighter course. Five of the members have completed their National Professional Qualification (NPQ) Firefighter 1, and are career paid firefighters with other fire departments or companies. These members have completed more than 120 hours of training in various fire related subjects, the majority of which are taught at the Flovilla Fire Station. Some members of the department have even traveled to the Georgia Fire Academy in Forsyth to receive specialized training; classes included Basic Rope Rescue, Medical First Responder, Emergency Vehicle Operations, Pressurize Container and Hazardous Materials Technician.
Fire Chief Glenn Williams attended a class at the University of Nevada at Reno this year dealing with Flammable Liquids and terrorism. “The time it takes to attend these classes is donated,” said Williams. “Members must take time away from their job, friends, and family to attend these classes.”
While the Flovilla Fire Department lost Firefighter Mark Floyd due to his relocation to the Macon area, two citizens, Shaun Lamb and Wes Coan, have joined in the past year. “We are excited to see new members join,” said Williams. “Hopefully this is a positive sign for the future.
“The department also continues to communicate its message of fire prevention throughout the community: we participated again in Dauset Trails’ Bluebird and Bluegrass festival held in April,” said Williams. “The department gave out several hundred brochures and plastic fire hats to the attendees of this event. This marks the fourth year of the department’s participation.
“This year we also had a Fire Safety House from the Georgia State Fire Marshals’ office to show our younger citizens how to react in the event of a structure fire. This was a big success for our department, and we appreciate Dauset Trails for allowing us to participate, and the Georgia State Fire Marshals’ office for bringing the fire safety house,” said Williams.
The Flovilla Fire Department answered 176 calls during the year, 84 of which were Emergency Medical calls. The department responded to nine structure fires, nine vehicle fires, 19 woods fires, 22 rescue calls, 10 false alarms, and 19 miscellaneous calls. The department also answered four Mutual Aid calls to Henry, Jasper and Monroe counties. Of the 176 calls answered by the department, 38 calls were in the Flovilla corporate city limits. Fifty-six of the calls occurred while the station was being manned. The average response time for the year was 7.64 minutes. “Department members missed children’s ball games, church, birthday parties, and sometimes work in order to answer these calls,” said Williams. “For this we are extremely grateful.”
The Flovilla Fire Department continues to operate on an automatic aid agreement with the City of Jackson, and Butts County. “We answered 134 calls in Butts County,” said Williams. “By doing this we are providing a beneficial service to all of the citizens of Butts County. These agreements have been very positive to the cities and the county. Thanks to Chief Harvey Norris, Chief David Newberry and the officers and members of the City of Jackson Fire Department and Butts County Fire Department a positive working relationship has developed over the years, and for that we are thankful. We’d like to thank the Mayor and Council of the City of Jackson and the Butts County Board of Commissioners for supporting us as well.”
The City of Flovilla adopted the Fire Safety inspection ordinance in December of 2004. Since that time, several businesses and churches in the city have been inspected. “The Flovilla Fire Department is committed to having a safe community from the dangers of fire,” said Williams. “One of our future goals is having a residential sprinkler ordinance passed for new homes that are being built. This would enable residents to have a safer home and could save them money on insurance premiums.”
The department has applied for a Firefighter’s Assistance Grant from Federal Emergency Management Agency. This grant was to be used to purchase pagers, educational material and a Thermal Imaging Camera. “We were not successful in getting this grant,” said Williams. “We intend to apply again in 2006 for this.
“In December, the department was successful in obtaining a $3,400 matching grant for the Georgia Forestry Commission. This grant, which the department must match, is to purchase testing equipment to aid us in performing engine and hose tests on our equipment. Since 1987 the department has received over $113,000 in grants. Very few departments our size can make this claim.”
The department had one fundraising activity this year. “We had our annual calendar fundraiser, and raised $1750 from this project to help buy equipment for the department,” said Williams. “This marks the thirteenth year we have sold calendars to the community. Since 1993 our fundraising efforts have resulted in over $21,000 of equipment being donated to the Flovilla Fire Department. Thanks to all the businesses and individuals who have purchased a calendar.”
The department continues to help with the fundraising efforts of the Georgia Firefighters’ Burn Foundation. The Burn Foundation helps children that have been burned and also helps educate the public about the dangers associated with fire. “This is the eleventh year that the Flovilla Fire Department has participated in this very worthwhile event,” said Williams. “Members of the department collected money from patrons of the Piggly Wiggly store in Jackson and at the intersection of Georgia Highway 42 and Georgia Highway 87. The department collected $800 from these locations in May. For this effort the department receives a portion of this money to be used in local fire prevention efforts. We are extremely grateful to Piggly Wiggly for allowing us to solicit funds from their facility.”
The department was not able to achieve several goals that it had set for itself. Among those was to purchase a thermal imaging camera. “We intend to apply to the Firefighter’s Assistance Grant again for this,” said Williams. “This will save the taxpayers $20,000 to $30,000.
“Another goal the firefighters are working on is for each firefighter to have a ‘Class A’ uniform. And I know citizens will want to know why we need a ‘Class A’ uniform. Well, firefighters that wear a ‘Class A’ uniform look professional. We want our personnel to look professional. There are several opportunities for the firefighter's to wear them: The Firefighters’ Appreciation Day at the Georgia State Capitol and the Firefighters’ Memorial service in Forsyth are but two examples of places where firefighters need a ‘Class A’ uniform. In 2003, firefighters bought the ‘Class A’ shirt, pants and hat; in 2006, we hope to purchase the dress coat,” said Williams.
“Another goal that can possibly be met in 2006 is having a full time firefighter working for the Flovilla Fire Department. Congress has passed a bill called the SAFER act to fund fire-fighting personnel. This is similar to the COPs program that was funded by the previous administration several years ago. This bill states that the federal government pays the first year’s salary for a firefighter, while the local government is responsible for nothing. After five years, the local government would be responsible for the total salary. We intend to apply for this grant.”
The officers for 2005 include Lieutenant Thomas Douglas, Assistant Chief David Dunn, and Chief Glenn Williams. “These members have put in many extra hours of work that has not been recorded,” said Williams. “For this we are thankful. These officers have always been ready and eager to participate in any role asked of them.
“This past year was one of the greatest years in our 38-year fire department history. We want to encourage the citizens of Flovilla to stop at the fire station on weekends and visit.
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