Dear Fire Service Subscribers,
We enter 2021 with hope! Our team is looking forward to the many opportunities the future holds for our community and Chatham Emergency Services. We could not be more proud of the way that Chatham Fire & EMS career and volunteer professionals handled a very difficult 2020. Hopefully, we are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel and cannot thank Chatham County’s First Responders enough for their professionalism during this crisis!
Emergency services has changed significantly as technology has entered a field that was once solely defined by brawn. On trend, we are pleased to offer you this first ever Chatham Emergency Services electronic newsletter. We have also included some examples of new technology in emergency services. The first link is a fun video of Santa Claus recently visiting neighborhoods within our community. Tracking Santa is actually an example of how we track our assets to place the nearest units on a call to reduce response time. Also included are examples of advanced drone and thermal imaging technologies used to fight fires safely and more effectively.
We are excited to say that our plans for 2021 include another year of continued improvements, embracing technology, and providing Chatham County with the best and most efficient public safety services available. As the world emerges from the COVID pandemic, we look forward to applying lessons learned and providing even better emergency services in the future. We thank you all for your support!
On behalf of our Board of Directors, Volunteers and Career Personnel,
We wish you a safe and healthy 2021!
2020 Santa Fun
This year Chatham Fire Volunteers escorted Santa all around our coverage area speading some socially-distanced Holiday Cheer! The video above has some of the highlights from this year’s routes!
Thermal Imaging Drone
Chatham Fire is continually looking for ways to implement cutting edge technology. This year we purchased a Drone with a Thermal Imaging Camera that can detect heat through surfaces. Watch the video to learn how this technology assists our firefighters
Did you know that when you subscribe for fire protection, you become an owner of our local, not for profit, community fire and emergency medical services (EMS) agency? You are one of over 24,000 resident/owners in Unincorporated Chatham county. We have a very diverse workforce and 98% of our 405 personnel live in Chatham County! Chatham Emergency Services is governed by an uncompensated board of directors.
The University of Georgia (UGA), Carl Vincent Institute of Government published a study of our agency in October of 2018. In it, they said we are a unique, and economically efficient fire department. They pointed out that our budget is less than 1/3 of similar-sized fire agencies and they could not find a similar agency anywhere in Georgia with which to compare us. As we enter our 60th year of community service since incorporation, we are very proud of the UGA study results that demonstrate our significant value to the community
Chatham Fire has had another major year of growth. Construction has been completed on our three story Live Fire Training Building allowing for advanced, in house training. 2020 brought two Fire Recruit Classes yielding additional paid firefighters to join our ranks and protect lives and property. This training center provides a safe, real life environment to keep our career and volunteer personnel up to date on the latest tactics.
CHATHAM COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION SURVEY
Chatham Emergency Services is a unique, fiscally efficient business model with no comparisons nationally (private, community-owned, not-for-profit, combination volunteer and career, Fire, EMS and Fire Watch services). For the first time in our more than 60 years, we are thrilled to be working closely with the Chatham County Commission to determine the most equitable funding process for such a complex and unique operation. If interested, please click on the survey link below to provide Chatham County Commissioners your insight on how fire department services should be provided and funded in Unincorporated Chatham County.
2020 BY THE NUMBERS
Team Chatham
188 Paramedics/EMTs
88 Paid Firefighters
58 Volunteer Firefighters
71 Dispatchers/Support
Fire Responses
Over
EMS Responses
Continual Growth
Interested in joining our team? We are actively seeking both Career and Volunteer Personnel! Visit our website for all active listings and opportunities!