Something New
Check out the cool ..... photo gallery.
( you will need a pretty fast connection )
Firewise
For tips on making your home or community more resistant to fires, go to Firewise. or call Roy Fortenberry at 706-896-2499.
Your Sponsors
Take a look at some of the local merchants that have sponsored the Chili Cook Off for the benefit of TCF&R.
About
Mitch Floyd, Fire ChiefHarold Copeland, Asst Fire Chief
Office: 706-896-2090
Emergency: 911
E-mail:
townscountyfire@windstream.net
The Fire Department has
58 active members, 6 fire stations with a total of 7 engines, 6
tankers, 4 rescues, and 2 brush trucks. The Fire Department
responds to an average of 800 calls per year. In 2006, Towns
County Fire & Rescue hired 3 full time firefighters who work Monday
through Friday 8-5, and are stationed at Hiawassee, Young Harris, and
Hightower stations. Mitch Floyd is the Fire Chief, Harold
Copeland, the Assistant Fire Chief, and Terry Parker is Operations
Captain.
The Fire Department responds to a wide
range of calls such as medical, auto accidents, fire, drowning,
flooding, gas spills and many other incidents, so training
is critical because of the wide variety of calls that we respond to.
A volunteer must have 60 hours
of training per year and a paid firefighter must have 120 hours per
year. Each station has training 2 times a month at their
stations and we have a multi-company training once a month where all
the departments come together and train at one central location.
Equipment and Staffing
Several of the fire department members hold a NPQ-2 fire fighting certification, and almost all of the others have a NPQ-1 certification.
We have several members that are National Registered EMT, and
several National Registered First
Responders.
The Towns County Fire & Rescue has come
a long way since back in the early 70's
when there was only a couple of trucks in
the county and just a few members. Towns
County is growing and the Fire Department
must grow with the county. In 2004, Towns
County purchased a new engine, and in the
next couple of years purchased 2 used
engines that are in very good condition
and in 2006 purchased 2 new engines. The
Fire Department equipment is now all up to
date and state of the art. The Fire
Department members are also in good
firefighter gear to meet the needs for
whatever type of emergency call they might
respond to.
Towns County Fire & Rescue has six fire
stations located throughout Towns County.
We currently hold an ISO (Insurance
Service Office) class 6/9.
Station One- Hiawassee Station
Two-Young Harris Station
Three-Fodder Creek Station
Four-Hightower Station
Five-Hiawassee River Station
Six-Sunnyside
An ISO 6 class applies to all
structures located within 5 miles of a
fire station and 1000 feet from a fire
hydrant. An ISO class 9 applies to all
structures within 5 miles of a fire
station and over 1000 feet of a fire
hydrant. Many homeowners throughout Towns
County benefit, thru lower insurance
premiums, from this ISO classification 6.