OUR Detailed Growth HISTORY

Since 1961, well over six decades, Southside Communities Fire Protection, Inc (Southside) has provided fire protection services to five unincorporated Chatham County fire districts. In the absence of government provided fire service, business professionals purchased fire equipment and volunteers trained and provided the critical service. Southside grew into a combination department model, using both paid and volunteer professionals. Using a not-for-profit organizational status, property owners funded the organizational needs via annual fire subscriptions. Contrary to urban legend, calls for service were responded to at equal strength regardless of the property’s subscription status. 

Southside utilized and depended on volunteers for several reasons. The first is the economic value of volunteers. The volunteers saved multiple millions of dollars in payroll expenses over the years.  The second reason is our volunteers were highly trained, well-experienced professionals who met, but usually exceeded, the State of Georgia Firefighter licensing requirements. Finally, these volunteers, who were so dedicated to their local communities, kept the not-for-profit local agency in touch with the concerns of the citizens we served. 

The fire department enjoyed tremendous success demonstrated by a very high, ISO 2/2x and ISO 3/3x ratings. A ranking that benchmarked in the top 5% of all fire departments nationally! It should also be noted that this success was achieved in areas that lacked adequate fire hydrants. 

Around 2018, Southside approached the County Commission asking for help with one thing, and one thing only; assist us with collecting subscriptions from the 30+/-% of non-subscribing properties.  The not-for-profit was financially strong, but the Board of Directors did not believe that Emergency Medical Services funds should be supporting Fire Department operations.  Later, the discussion turned to the County acquiring the fire department because some County officials felt they could operate the fire department cheaper than the private sector. In 2024, the County was funding the not-for-profit fire department in the amount of $13.8 million dollars a year, collected from unincorporated property owners. Southside had 38 licensed volunteer firefighters at that time.

On June 30, 2024, the County purchased the fire trucks and all equipment for $5.3 million dollars. This amount was what Southside owed on fire apparatus loans. Southside took a loss of $700,000 dollars on the value conveyed in the sale with an intention to keep costs low for County taxpayers. To further support the newly formed County fire operation, Southside leased the 12 needed stations to the county on a long-term lease for $1 a year. 

Today, Southside d/b/a Chatham Emergency Services (CES) is the countywide, exclusive 911 emergency and non-emergency ambulance service in Chatham County. CES is one of only seven (7) CAAS-accredited ambulance services in Georgia and one of 180 accredited ambulance services in the world!  The EMS agency has the best equipment available anywhere in the EMS industry. Boasting a newer, well-maintained fleet of ambulances that receive factory authorized service and maintenance. Each rescue ambulance is valued at $200,000, not including medical equipment, supplies, radios and technology. Each ambulance carries approximately $100,000 of technology, medical equipment, and supplies.

CES employs 250 highly trained emergency medical technicians, advanced paramedics, and certified emergency dispatchers. Our agency is held to rigorous response time standards and also deploys specially trained medical personnel on our infectious disease transport team and tactical (SWAT) medic team. CES’ medical personnel protect the people managing and visiting our local, critical infrastructure such as the Georgia Ports, Savannah International Airport, rail lines, and two major interstate highways.

Today, Chatham Emergency Services remains a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to serving Chatham County’s 320,000 citizens and 14 million tourists each year.  CES is the fourth largest ambulance provider in the State of Georgia. 

The organization is guided by a volunteer, uncompensated Board of Directors and a CEO with 42 years of industry experience, who holds the exclusive Chief EMS Officer (CEMSO) Designation which is held only by 140 EMS Executives in the world.

Volunteerism is the core of Chatham Emergency Services. The mission has changed slightly as Chatham County, with the unbelievable financial support of Chatham Emergency Services, launched a fire service in 2024. The core ethos of Chatham Emergency Services is the blood, sweat, and tears forged for generations by the multitude of men and women who volunteered their time, talent, and treasure to the Chatham County citizens. It is also important to note that these volunteers were supported by unwavering families. Spouses had to hear the “tones” drop in the middle of the night and during storms and see their loved one leave to help their neighbors. Drills were frequently attended by families who watched in respect as their Mom and/or Dad trained to keep their community safe.