Living Jackson Magazine :: Fighting Fires, Saving Lives

Fighting Fires, Saving Lives

Jackson County's Fire Departments Rely on Volunteers

Story by Gail Ellen Daly
Photos by Tom Jordan and Jackson County Fire Department

They’ve come a long way in 30-some years—a long way since volunteers in the county fought fires with inadequate equipment, virtually no communication and little training.

It all changed in the mid-80s, said Harrisburg Fire Chief Michael Merk.

Although Jackson County’s firefighters, as well as firefighters in the Jefferson and Commerce city departments, respond with up-to-date apparatus, equipment and modern communications, Merk recalls how it was.

“We had one truck that held 750 gallons of water,” he said, “and a Jeep that held 300.”

Water came through a one-and-a-half-inch line; they had one air pack that was passed around.

“Sometimes Commerce or Jefferson wouldn’t come (to a fire in the area),” Merk continued, “and sometimes they would charge to come out.”

Harrisburg, similar to other rural departments, had a board of directors that met at the old country store on Route 15A. They funded what they could through donations, barbecues, raffles and a dance.

“We also sold hams before Christmas,” said Merk, who joined the volunteer department in 1978 and has been chief for two years.

Districts were not clearly defined, so each community coped as best they could. It was so bad in the western part of the county, in the late 60s Braselton and Hoschton finally appealed to the state legislature for help. That body created the West Jackson Fire Department, setting its boundaries.

“It was a nighttime house fire in Hoschton behind an antique store that finally had residents in the two cities get together,” said West Jackson Fire Chief Ben Stephens.

Although the city had a contract with Winder to provide fire protection “at $250 a call,” they failed to respond that night. And, at that time, there were no county departments; only Jefferson and Commerce had fire departments and those volunteers would rarely travel that distance to douse a fire.

Safety Officer Dwayne Keith even recalled the date of the devastating fire—March 17, 1968.

He explained that after obtaining a bank loan from the old Braselton Bank, they bought an old fire truck.

After the legislature approved the special tax district for fire protection, a five-member board of directors—one member from each voting precinct—was established.

West Jackson’s officers do not report to the county commissioners, but to this board.

“The board meets the second Tuesday of each month and meetings are open to the public,” Stephens said. “They give us what we need, provided we justify the need.”

The department has an active Junior Firefighters program and a Fire Explorers post for 14-21 year-olds.

“We’re always looking to recruit more members,” Stephens said.

With the area’s growing population and business expansion, the department has paid 24-hour staffing at the West Jackson station.

“On Oct. 1, we already had 500 calls,” Stephens said. “In 2006 we had 579 for the year; in 2005 we had 482 calls for the year.”

West Jackson covers 30 square miles, including 11 miles straddling I-85.

Two people are on duty at all times, with part-time firemen adding to the available manpower. The volunteer roster is currently at 21 people. As with all the departments, training is ongoing and much training is mandatory.

Change for the remaining county districts did not come until 1984. By resolution, between Nov. 15, 1984 and Nov. 15, 1986, the Board of Commissioners established eight volunteer fire districts and taxing districts.

Each department was created through a separate resolution that set boundaries and established a board of directors. Directors were initially appointed with staggered four-year terms. After the initial terms, the district’s residents elected directors.

Doug Waters, a retired Jefferson volunteer firefighter, who also served as the county’s Director of Emergency Services from 1973 to 1988, explained the process of creating those districts.

“Departments outside of the two cities needed to be self-governing, and their most important needs were equipment, radios and pagers for communication, turnout gear, air packs and a water source,” he said.

“A referendum was already set for SPLOST money to fund a new jail, money for roads and a county administration building,” Waters explained, noting that that new jail is now the old, soon-to-be-replaced jail.

At that time, the departments formed the Jackson County Firefighters Association.

Grants through the U.S. Forestry Service were available, but they were 50 percent matching grants. The association approached the county council, asking for $50,000 per department and a request to put the question of fire districts and fire tax districts on the February referendum.

“If the commissioners agreed, firefighters and their families would campaign countywide for all items on the referendum.”

And, said current County Commissioner Tom Crow, who was a Jefferson volunteer for 25 years, each district would finally be able to finance its equipment and gear.

It passed overwhelmingly.

Each county department sets its own budget and submits that budget and a mill rate for its budget to the commissioners. The mill rate for that district is itemized on a homeowner’s annual property tax bill.

In addition to Jefferson, Commerce and West Jackson, there are eight county fire districts, which includes unincorporated areas and small cities—Arcade, South Jackson, North Jackson, Harrisburg, Plainview, Jackson Trail, Maysville and Nicholson.

North Jackson, for example, provides fire protection to Talmo and Pendergrass. Covering 37.5 square miles, the department operates three stations—in Talmo, Pendergrass and the Fairview community—with equipment in each.

Throughout the years, one fact remains constant: Volunteer men and women make up all 11 departments. And the departments have members from all walks of life.

Although the two city departments have been in existence longer than their county counterparts and are funded by the cities of Jefferson and Commerce, there is one misconception: Both are volunteer departments.

Like West Jackson, Jefferson and Commerce are considered “combination departments,” however the two cities only have paid personnel daytimes, Monday through Friday. Nights and weekends, it’s all volunteer.

Paid on a per diem basis, the firefighters are primarily full time career firefighters in other counties or cities and work on their off-days.

However, at other times, they respond to a call as a volunteer.

“Most volunteers are also career firefighters in other departments,” said Jefferson firefighter Jeff Adamek.

Jefferson operates out of two stations, station No. 1 on Athens Street next to the city hall and station No. 2 on Hwy. 129 just before the bypass.

Both facilities were built in 2000. Until then, engines were housed in the city hall basement.

With 40 volunteers, Jefferson sends an engine and service truck in mutual aid to surrounding county departments during a working fire. Other departments respond to Jefferson for a working fire.

The department has two women and is attracting young volunteers through its program for teens ages 14 to 18.

Capt. Darrell Chaisson Jr. noted that volunteers need not be city residents nor be trained firefighters. Certification can be obtained after joining.

Last year the department responded to 319 calls. As in all departments, training is ongoing.

In Commerce, the department structure is similar to Jefferson. Commerce’s two paid daytime firefighters are on a per diem basis and work full-time elsewhere.

On a late September afternoon, several firefighters were preparing for Fire Prevention Week.

“We go to the schools and talk to the kids and educate them about smoke detectors, we talk to businesses and do pre-plans in the event there is a fire,” Lt. Josh Spear said.

During the day, they inspect hydrants twice a year and test hoses.

“Our population gets good service through our volunteers,” said Spear, “but it’s hard when people have full-time jobs.”

And as more people work out of the area, finding daytime volunteers becomes difficult.

Spear noted that their yearly call volume is about 250, but jumps to 300-350 with mutual aid to Maysville and Nicholson.

Commerce provides protection to the city and a small unincorporated area. That area, the East Jackson Fire District, contracts with Commerce.

“We have 28 members and we get the job done,” said Spear. “Currently, we have room on our roster for six more members.” He called Commerce one of the best and a well-trained department.

“Training has changed dramatically and call volume keeps going up,” Merk pointed out. “We offer 120 hours of training and meet every Tuesday night.”

Harrisburg, which covers 35 square miles, is often shorthanded during the day and depends on mutual aid.

“We have 26 active members,” Merk said, “but with young members, their families come first.”

According to Crow, training used to consist of burning down an old house. All departments were invited to take part.

“Then the Environmental Protection Division got involved and put an end to that,” he said. “Plus training requirements increased.”

A new county training facility, complete with burn house, a driving course and classrooms, is on the fast track.

Merk, Stephens and Crow also praised the prison fire department—fully trained approved volunteer prisoners who respond to all fires, helping wherever needed.

“They might be prisoners, but they volunteer their time for training while other prisoners are watching TV,” Crow said.

In addition to providing fire protection, Crow pointed out, volunteers from all the departments help with lost children and senior citizens, teach fire safety in the schools, have first responder units for medical emergencies and help with weather-related emergencies.

During fire prevention week, for example, Jefferson held an open house for all residents that included fun activities and food as well as serious information concerning fire safety.

“Every department is always looking for volunteers that want to give back to the community,” Crow said.

Waters added that it’s time to reach out to new business owners and new residents in attracting new volunteers.

“A typical volunteer is one who lives in that community,” he said.

Pointing to the training hours, Crow noted that insurance companies base homeowner premiums on information about a community’s fire protection services and the ability to suppress a fire.

“It’s called an ISO rating,” Crow explained. “A one is best, 10 means protection does not meet the minimum criteria.”

Each department conducts a yearly pump test to determine its rating.

He estimates that, thanks to the positive fire protection rating throughout the county, each homeowner sees a $3 reduction in property insurance for each $1 paid in fire tax on their annual tax bill.

Will growing Jackson County reach a point where volunteers are scarce and a paid department becomes a necessity?

Though other counties have countywide paid departments, Crow does not foresee a change in the near future.

Using dollar numbers obtained from Hall and Athens-Clark County, the county budget would jump over $12 million a year, Crow explained.

“And a volunteer department is a community department that has a community feel,” he said. “And it helps define a community.”

Yes, much has changed, but one things remains constant: The volunteers get up in the middle of the night, or leave a holiday dinner with their families, as they willingly leave home to protect the people of Jackson County.