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2024 ANNUAL2024 ANNUALREPORTREPORT Message
CHIEF'S MESSAGEMARCUS HAYNESADMINISTRATIONDEPUTY CHIEFJOHN HERPINADMINISTRATIONBATTALION CHIEFRONALD SKRINEADMINISTRATIONBATTALION CHIEFRONALD SHOEMAKEOPERATIONSBATTALION CHIEFJOHNNY HENRYOPERATIONSBATTALION CHIEFJASON ROWANOPERATIONSBATTALION CHIEFEvery day, I have the opportunity to work alongsidea team of highly skilled, dedicated, and courageousfirefighters and staff who are committed toprotecting our community. Together, we provideexceptional emergency services to more than57,000 citizens.In 2024, we achieved a significant milestone withthe introduction of Station 8, further strengtheningour ability to serve and protect Valdosta’s residents.As we look ahead, we are excited about continuedexpansion and growth, ensuring that ourdepartment remains equipped to meet the evolvingneeds of our city.The fire service has seen many changes over theyears, and our role continues to expand. However,our unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of our community remains constant. Whilethis Annual Report provides data and highlights ouraccomplishments, it also reflects the strongconnections we have built with the residents weserve.I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished in2024 and grateful for the dedicated men andwomen who make up the Valdosta Fire Department.Thank you for the opportunity to serve this greatcommunity, and I hope you enjoy the 2024 AnnualReport.Brian BoutwellFire Chief It is my honor andprivilege to serve as theFire Chief for the City ofValdosta.
CORINNE GIBSONADMINISTRATIVECOORDINATORMATTHEW DAVISTRAINING CAPTAINROBERT MERCERSPECIAL OPERATIONSCAPTAINURSULA ANTLEYFIRE RECORDSMANAGERJAMES CLINKSCALESFIRE MARSHALOURMISSIONThe VFD provides full-time, professional fireprotection and educational services for the City ofValdosta, which includes Fire Suppression, FireSafety Education and Prevention, CodeEnforcement, Hazardous Materials Mitigation,Confined Space Rescue, and Medical FirstResponders. The department had an ISO (InsuranceService Office) inspection in August 2015 thatresulted in receiving a Class 1 rating. This is the firsttime the department has ever held a top rating. TheClass 1 rating was effective on April 1, 2016. In May2022, the department maintained the Class 1 rating,with the overall score increasing from 93.25 to94.95. OURDEPARTMENTThe department's response area coversapproximately 57,000 citizens and over 100,000in the Valdosta metro area, comprising of SouthGeorgia and North Florida. The VFD is also theproud home to Task Force 2, one of the eightregional Georgia Search and Rescue (GSAR) teamsdesignated by the State of Georgia Governor'sOffice for the Southwest Georgia area. The Valdosta Fire Department iscommitted to saving lives, protectingproperty, preserving the environment,and providing compassionate service toour community through education,prevention, courage, and resilience.
FIRESTATIONS77STATIONSSTATIONS88ENGINESENGINES111111EMPLOYEESEMPLOYEES11AIR/LIGHT TRUCKAIR/LIGHT TRUCK
11SEARCH & RESCUESEARCH & RESCUETRUCKTRUCK22LADDERLADDER TRUCKSTRUCKS 112,000 GALLON2,000 GALLONTANKER TRUCKTANKER TRUCK
STATION 8Public Safety Facility BriefingNEW STATIONINTRODUCTIONThe City of Valdosta is facing several challenges to sustain and improvepublic safety services in its northern jurisdiction. Last year, the citysecured a building built for a church with the intent of converting it intoa public safety facility.The new facility will serve as a fire station in the city's northernjurisdiction. The current stations cannot meet the National FireProtection Association Standard (NFPA) for response times in thenorthern jurisdiction. The addition of the new station will provide thesame service to all jurisdictions and bridge the gap to meet the NFPAstandard.
FIRST FLOOR PLANSECOND FLOOR PLANThe Valdosta PoliceDepartment currentlyoperates from itsheadquarters on Toombs.Officers assigned to thenorthern jurisdiction mustleave their area to use therestroom or take a break. Thenew facility will address thisby providing break areas,training classrooms, andoffices for the policedepartment.In 2015, the fire and policedepartments repurposed mobiletrailers as classrooms and trainingoffices from a city constructionsite to save costs. After nearly tenyears of use, these trailers nowrequire renovations to remainfunctional. The new public safetyfacility will eliminate the need forthese renovations, providing amore durable and efficientstructure for our public safetyagencies.The new facility's location, just 5 miles from Moody AFB, offers aconvenient regional training site. This proximity facilitates joint trainingwith Moody AFB fire personnel. Additionally, it allows personnel from thenorthern jurisdiction to attend without needing to relocate. This regionaltraining center will serve Valdosta, Lowndes County, and Moody AFB,enabling personnel to remain within their assigned jurisdictions whileparticipating in training sessions.
6,7476,747CALLS FORSERVICE25%25%YEARLYCALL STATSFIRE ALARMSMEDICALOTHER HAZARDSSTRUCTURE FIRESOTHER FIRESVEHICLE ACCIDENTS19%19%55%55%8%8%13%13%32%32%0.5%0.5%1,5081,5082,5902,5901,3321,332110110264264943943
Total Property Value$110,313,729Total Property Loss $1,917,468Total Property Saved $108,396,261STRUCTUREFIRES
TRAININGFirefighters engaged in around 35,708 hours of training. TheVFD collaborates with federal, state, and local agencies to offera range of classes for regional delivery. These courses enhancethe students’ fundamental knowledge, equipping them foradvanced decision-making to better serve our community.Company 22,132Officer 520Driver 264Facilities 2,013HazMat 1,052Medical 1,056ARFF 604Recruit 7,456TRAINING HOURS
VFD hosted a structuralcollapse training session,bringing together GeorgiaSearch & Rescue (GSAR)members from multipleagencies across SouthGeorgia. Participants refinedtheir skills in stabilizingstructures, a vital disciplinethat enables firefighters tosafely rescue individualstrapped in collapsedenvironments.STRUCTURALCOLLAPSE
HAZMAT TECHNICIANTRAININGFirefighters must prepare for andrespond to diverse and challengingemergencies. This preparationincludes dealing with hazardousmaterials (HAZMAT) incidents, suchas chemical and biological threats.VFD hosted a Georgia Fire AcademyHazmat Technician class, wherefirefighters put their knowledge tothe test through scenario-basedtraining covering everything fromincident command to productcontrol and decontaminationprocedures.
LEADERSHIPSEMINARCaptainToddEdwardsA successful multi-agencyleadership seminar was organized,with Captain Edwards serving asthe facilitator. This transformativeexperience aimed to improveleadership and decision-makingskills among participants.Captain Edwards, recognized forhis expertise in fire groundoperations and officerdevelopment, provided invaluableinsights based on years ofexperience and national influence.The seminar offered a significantopportunity for participants torefine their leadership abilities andstrategic thinking.
LIVE FIRETRAININGUtilizing an acquired structure forburning presents a remarkablechance for VFD firefighters to honetheir skills in a realistic setting. TheValdosta Fire Department isdevoted to delivering exceptionalservice to our community, and ourfirefighters are fully committed tomastering their profession.The Training Division conducted live firetraining, taking full advantage of an acquiredstructure. Throughout their training exercises,they collaborated effectively, performingaggressive interior fire attacks. This experienceallows instructors to impart crucial knowledgeto firefighters about fire dynamics and theimpact of fire paths.
In addition to responding to calls and training,firefighters conducted more than 1,831 pre-incidentplanning surveys and 3,717 hydrant inspections.
FIREPREVENTION2,873FIRE INSPECTIONS49CERTIFICATE OFOCCUPANCYINSPECTIONS41BUILDING SPRINKLERPLAN REVIEWS784FIRE & LIFE SAFETYVIOLATIONS48SMOKE DETECTORSINSTALLED48COMMUNITYEDUCATION PROGRAMS215PLAN REVIEWS
Fire Prevention Week serves as a vital reminder forthe community about the significance of fire safety.Travis Pate - State Farm Insurance actively supportsthis yearly event by providing educationalpamphlets, coloring sheets, and essential resources.This year's Fire Prevention Week took place fromOctober 6 to 12, with the 2024 theme being “SmokeAlarms: Make Them Work for You!™.” The goal was toraise awareness about the crucial need forfunctioning smoke alarms in every household.FIREPREVENTION WEEK
LEARNWITH USThe Valdosta Fire Department knows how to make fire safetyfun and engaging by taking creativity to the next level usingvarious educational tools. For example, the puppet shows area hit! These lively performances combine storytelling withvital fire safety tips, capturing the attention of children whileensuring they learn essential lessons.
LEARN WITH USBut the excitement didn’t stopthere! The Fire Safety Traileroffers an interactive experiencethat teaches kids how to staysafe from fires at home.
They also opened their firestations for tours, allowingstudents to explore the trucksand gear up close, making kidsfeel like real firefighters for a day.And let’s not forget the schoolvisits, where the firefightersbrought their A-game, deliveringimportant safety messages in away that was entertaining andmemorable. The Valdosta Fire Department isdefinitely on fire when it comesto promoting safety with a splashof fun!
COMMUNITYINVOLVEMENT
Homeless Engagement and Resource TeamValdosta Fire Department and SGMCHealth EMS partner for the community! HE❤ RT GoalsProactive OutreachReduce non-emergency 911 callsAddress basic needs in our communityStrengthen trust between the City of Valdostaand the communityFoster community partnershipsThis partnership goesbeyond handlingemergencies; it is abouthelping our community'smost vulnerable residents.The HE❤ RT teamengages in communityoutreach on Mondays,Wednesdays, andFridays from 9:00 AMto 12:00 PM Community Partnerscontribute donations tohelp provide essentialresources for thecommunity, includingwater, non-perishablesnacks, and othernecessities. HE❤ RT Action PlanPreparation and Mobilization: The team gathers toprepare necessary supplies and is briefed on the day’sobjectives and routes. Outreach and Engagement: The team conducts outreachon Mon, Wed, and Fri from 9 am - 12 pm. The team buildstrust and establishes rapport. Data Collection and Analysis: During outreach, data iscollected using a structured form to capture essentialinformation about the needs and challenges faced by theunhoused. Data is later cross-referenced with the 911 callcenter to identify if there is a reduction in non-emergencycalls. The data helps in assessing the impact of theprogram. Feedback and Continuous Improvement: Team briefingsare held to discuss observations, challenges, andsuccesses. The collected data is analyzed to refine andadapt the program’s approach. Inventory: Data is used to determine needed inventory.Relationships are maintained with community partners toensure the sustainability of resources.
HomelessHomeless EngagementEngagement andand ResourceResource TeamTeam
FIRE CHIEFFOR A DAYThe Valdosta Fire Department had thedistinct pleasure of welcoming aremarkable guest to Station One: BadanHamlin, VFD Chief for a Day!Fire Chief Boutwell first met Badan during areading session with local children.Interestingly, just a week prior, ChiefManahan of the Valdosta PoliceDepartment had read to the same groupand humorously noted that all the childrenaspired to become police officers, ratherthan firefighters. Amidst the cheers, youngBadan confidently asserted his ambition tobecome a firefighter!Impressed by Badan's enthusiasm, ChiefBoutwell invited him to experience a day asthe Fire Chief. Badan's adventurecommenced when his grandmotheraccompanied him to Station One. He led ameeting with Command Staff, followed byan engaging truck inspection withLieutenant Roe and Lieutenant Williams.Badan even enjoyed a ride in the front seatof the fire truck during a "mock call" aroundthe block and assisted in raising the ladder!
$1,300$1,300Mayor’s MotorcadeA new donation website provided thecommunity with a more convenient wayto support Shop with a Firefighter. https://donorbox.org/shop-with-a-firefighterLimited edition VFD Christmasornaments were offered as a fundraiserfor the Mayor’s Motorcade. Theseornaments draw inspiration from thefire engine that responded to the WhiteHouse fire on Christmas Eve in 1929.The Mayor’s Motorcade initiative aimsto bring Christmas joy and cheer to theresidents of the PruittHealth ParkwoodDevelopmental Center.
The Valdosta FireDepartmentsuccessfullyraised over$3,000 for the“Give Burns theBoot” campaign,benefiting theGeorgiaFirefighters BurnFoundation. This achievement was made possible through thededication and hard work of the department’s firefightersand staff, along with the generous support of thecommunity. Their collective efforts contributed to ameaningful cause, helping to provide critical resources forburn victims and fire prevention programs. The departmentextends its sincere appreciation to all who donated andparticipated, demonstrating the power of teamwork andcommunity commitment in making a difference.Give Burns the Boot
The Valdosta FireDepartmentparticipated in theValdosta City School'sAttendance AwarenessParades held at variouselementary schools. Thisinitiative promotes theimportance of attendingschool with the slogans"Cool cats come toschool" and "Every daycounts."ENCOURAGINGTHE FUTURE
The VFD Command Staff was set up in the EmergencyOperations Center (EOC), where they were crucial indeveloping incident command strategies and action plans.They coordinated resources and personnel, assisted withcommunication and dispatch, and organized teams toensure smooth operations.HURRICANEHELENEDuring the storm, VFD crews responded to multiple emergency calls, including downed power lines,fallen trees, and other hazards. Their response and commitment to public safety ensured that thecommunity remained protected throughout the storm. Following the storm, they collaborated withother agencies to clear roads and conduct damage assessments. Meanwhile, VFD recruits carried outwellness checks and delivered supplies to residents in need.
FIREFIGHTERS RESCUEFAMILY PETSValdosta Fire DepartmentOn Friday, December13, 2024, atapproximately 4:45A.M., the ValdostaFire Departmentresponded to thereport of a structurefire at 807 SmithbriarDrive. Fire crewsarrived on scenewithin five minutesto find heavy flamesvisible from theresidence.Firefighters quicklybrought the fireunder control andrescued two caninesfrom the home.There were noinjuries reported.Two occupants weredisplaced as a resultof the fire; however,they did not requireassistance from theAmerican Red Cross.The Valdosta PoliceDepartment andSGMC Health EMSassisted with onscene operations.On Friday, December 20, 2024, atapproximately 4:07 p.m., the ValdostaFire Department responded to the reportof a structure fire at 2414 Deborah Dr.The first unit arrived on scene within 4minutes to find light smoke coming froma single-family residence.SavingFUR BABIESTwenty fire personnel responded andquickly brought conditions under control,rescuing one pet from the home. Oneinjury was reported and treated by SGMCHealth EMS on-site. Additionally, the causeof the fire was accidental.Two occupantswere displaceddue to the fireand are receivingassistance fromthe AmericanRed Cross.