Catoosa to combine fire departments, search for new chief
By Randall Franks
Thursday June 28, 2007 6:59:53pm


Catoosa County will combine countywide fire services, commissioners said Thursday.

The Board of Commissioners pondered the issue for over an hour in the second day of their two-day retreat at Red Top Mountain State Park near Cartersville, Ga.

Talks about the future of the departments actually began at its last retreat in 2006 and since that time members of county government have met with the leadership of Catoosa County Fire & Rescue and Post Volunteer Fire De-partment to discuss how best to combine the services provided by both organizations, according to Catoosa County Manager Ron Brown.

“We have outgrown ourselves, especially for funding,” Brown said.

After the discussion about the best approach, commissioners shared the consensus that it will take a dynamic leader from outside the community to bring together the two departments into a new countywide organization.

Brown said in his discussions with the volunteer fire organizations, he was advised it will be best to bring in a chief from outside the community to make this transition and appoint a Fire Committee including a member of the Board of Commissioners, representatives of both volunteer fire organizations and citizens to work with the chief on the process.

Brown will place ads early next week for a full-time Catoosa County fire chief, who will earn approximately $60,000 a year plus benefits.

He said it became obvious that it was time to move in this direction when the latest requests for full-time man-power were submitted from Fort Oglethorpe and Post Volunteer Fire Department.

According to Catoosa County Chief Financial officer Carl Henson, the letter from Fort Oglethorpe Chief Bruce Ballew included an additional $145,000 for Fort Oglethorpe that adds to a request from the Post Volunteers asking for $492,000 more as well adding eight full-time firefighters.

The Post has no full-time firefighters, its organization is totally volunteer.

The two organizations, which answer calls in the city and west Catoosa County, received $175,000 for Fort Ogle-thorpe and $216,000 for the Post Volunteer Fire Department in the last budget year.

These amounts are in addition to $1.284 million budgeted for Catoosa County Fire & Rescue that serves Ringgold and the rest of the county, Henson said.

Catoosa County Fire & Rescue at the end of the fiscal year will have 24 full-time firefighters, 17 of those hired within the last year, he said.

“It has been stated that Fort Oglethorpe wants to remain with a fire department of their own (and serve inside the city),” Brown said.

As a result, the county made no plans to incorporate Fort Oglethorpe city services into the countywide system. The county will keep the $175,000 provided to the city in the past two years in the county budget and apply that to the new consolidated department.

Commissioners said some future discussions will be required to discuss what role the city of Ringgold might con-tinue to play in the countywide organization.

The additional full-time personnel and a chief should cost approximately $320,000. The county plans to apply the money previously provided to Fort Oglethorpe towards those costs and some funds from its contingency account.

Chairman Bill Clark said the county will need to review equipment and vehicles that belong to the county for the new combined fire department.

Commissioner Dewayne Hill warned that a salary for a fire chief could be more in the $85,000 range.

Catoosa’s current fire chief position, held by Chuck Gass, is a volunteer job. Fort Oglethorpe Fire & Rescue Chief Bruce Ballew holds a paid position and also oversees the Post Volunteers.

Commissioner Jim Emberson said he is in favor of the change.

“We do not want to minimize the importance of the volunteers in this process,” he said.

Commissioner Ken Marks said he believes Post Volunteers are on board.

“They realize the need and what we’ve got to do,” he said. “We can’t micromanage, the chief has got to be the one to move forward.”

Clark said there will likely be bumps in the road but the county can pull it off.

“It’s a change, change is hard sometimes,” Brown said.

For reaction from Catoosa and Fort Oglethorpe fire officials, visit catoosanews.com on Friday.



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romegasir
Comments: 1608
Joined: 03/14/2007
07/25/2007 10:02:27 PM
I think you all should have a family picnic, watch a season of Rescue Me (knowingly looking at your significant others and nodding "yeah, that's what I do baby") and then get back to decking out your $1500 Honda Civics with the latest $3500 strobes.
 
Mustang1
Comments: 2
Joined: 07/25/2007
07/25/2007 02:49:27 PM
Great example of why Catoosa needs only department and one chain of command..

It might stop this I'm better than you challenge... maybe we need a CCFR and FOFR football game together to raise money equipment..
 
inhoc79
Comments: 4
Joined: 07/06/2007
07/25/2007 08:40:15 AM
Fireman2001 anytime you would like to challenge in the ways of firefighting you just let me know. CCFR is not the only training I have its just the only Georgia certificates I have. This is why there is a problem with the two seperate departments because,( and I'm guilty) You don't know when to just shut your face and let it go. But I can promise you this Fireman2001 if you ever need me in a fire I'll be able to stand up to the challenge, If you ever need me or my ambulance I will also be up for the challenge. The department thing won't matter at that point will it?
 
Fireman2001
Comments: 3
Joined: 07/22/2007
07/25/2007 08:27:26 AM
inhoc79, That is awesome that you feel that the CCFR is better trained than the FOFR. I mean you should know you have Module 1 which is a step above tying your shoe, oh! wait you have a CCFR Firefighter 1 certificate. Now I am not speaking down on the CCFR training division because I know some of them personally and know that they are good trainers. I bet they laughed at you when you when you posted your ignorant comments. I just do not want you to be mad because the FOFR tried to train you to save lifes and property. If you do not want to be the best trained and know and love the job maybe you should go back to the military.Learn what the job is and respect it and love it . Stop being a mutt.

ks27110 you need to reevaluate your self in the fire service and learn what brotherhood is. By stating that ignorant ass comment you have stepped on all the brothers and sisters that have came before you. Yo u are a mutt and need to learn to do the right thing and not bad mouth your fellow brothers and sisters. You have tarnished the Maltese Cross.
 
pblack
Comments: 2
Joined: 07/11/2007
07/11/2007 12:30:31 PM
The best thing that could happen with our fire and rescue department is to combine them. Combining resourses, training, and equipment would save thousands. One Chief! one department!

 
rbrown
Comments: 12
Joined: 02/22/2006
07/11/2007 12:22:11 PM
It only makes since to have just one department. Just because it has always been seperate doesn't mean it makes it the best decision.
 
inhoc79
Comments: 4
Joined: 07/06/2007
07/11/2007 11:22:53 AM
For all of you FO Firefighters we are not discussing who is better and who is not. If you would read my comment first without drawing conclusions it clearly states thats IF the fire departments merge are they all gonna have to retrain in order to meet the others standards? I did state an opinion on which I think is the right place for me I have friends on both derpartments like i said. I have my opinions and thats all, and I will not apologize for making a few comments nor will I apologize for those of you who wear your heart on your sleeve. Also I stated that Iam no longer affiliated with either but I am still a member of this county. While I have moved on I know that wherever I will be in this county that whover responds to my emergency will do so with the utmost proffiecentcy. And as far as PTC and any other firefighter if you wanna compare apples to apples don't use the military unless you have served in that capacity. Just for the record I did and with that training i can go to any branch and serve without going through any sort of boot camp again , and how do I know because i did it. But wait the military doesn't want or need to merge with another branch to effectively do their job, they are experts within their own branch and if you tried that wouldn't work either.

 
fofr906
Comments: 12
Joined: 07/01/2007
07/10/2007 12:20:43 PM
AMEN BROTHER.

 
fireman1
Comments: 2
Joined: 06/30/2007
07/10/2007 10:16:14 AM
Do you think that if you left Catoosa County Fire or FOFD and went to FDNY or Atlanta or any other department that your training would hold up? No! Each department has thier own training agenda. Just because you completed Mod 1 does not make you a certified firefighter. Most department's state wide require NPQ 1. I know for a fact both department's have some of the best firefighter's around. Take a look at the roster's of each and see how many have made a career out of it. No matter what happens if we combine or stay seperate i wanna feel safe knowing that when im in that long dark hallway with smoke and heat driving me to the floor that the guy next to me has my back no matter what department he or she is from. Once again i question why you do this occupation. Next fire you go on take a look around you'll see the one's who wanna be there. They are not the one's sitting around doing nothing or hiding from work. Trust me both department's have some of these. Both department's have some highly trained firefighter's. This county is growing by leaps and bounds. It's time for the fire department's to do the same. Either accept change or find another place to just hang out. Whether your CCFR, PVFD, FOFD the fire know's no affiliations. We all look the same in a burning building............

 
PVFD855
Comments: 2
Joined: 07/05/2007
07/08/2007 12:04:57 PM
Ks27110,
"The rate of loss of we will experience (of well-trained and willing volunteers) if we combine." Some departments have already lost most of their experience. PVFD nor FOFD have, we have many members with over 15 years, quite a few with more that 20 or 25, and even 1 or 2 have hit the 40 year mark. We seem to have no trouble retaining well-trained, experienced, volunteers. The funny thing is these people have lasted through political turmoil, Chiefs being swapped or moved, or the lack of good funding. MAYBE THATS BECAUSE THEY ARE IN IT FOR THE RIGHT REASON!!! You will always have certain people who will come and go because of family matters, or career decisions, but to leave a joy and a passion over who the Chief is or is not would be insane. Actually, they should leave, I don't want someone to be willing to save life or property today and then all of a sudden there is a new Chief and they decide I no longer want to take an active role in my community, I no longer want to be there for my neighbor in their time of need, or worst yet leave their BROTHERS behind in a structure because of who the freakin' chief is. Gut check time boys: Are you here to risk it all to save life and property? Are you here to be a part of a brotherhood that knows no bounds? Are you here because you love the passion, the joy, the excitement, the challenge of a difficult job being done well? Or, as seems to be the case, are you here for a chief? PVFD and FOFD have great training, we are an agressive department, we know what we are doing, we have a great membership and would love to add to it. However, some people say we are chaotic and unable to retain well trained and willing volunteers. Look around, talk to people (the ones who actually know facts and not rumor), get into the history of FOFD and POST not only in the local area but state and national as well. We have an impressive past of great firefighting and an unsurpassed loyalty to our brothers.
And for INHOC79,
FOFD and POST actually train all the time ( 3 hours a week, some weekends, we send people to GPSTC and the dept. pays for it, we have people who organize our training that know what they are talking about, they have spent countless hours themselves training on how to train us better, we send people to FDIC and a pretty good number too, our training is actually organized). Incident command, yeah, we actually know what a fire ground channel is, and we use it to give assignments on the fire ground to different sectors and divisions, I think we can see where this is leading so I'll move on. Our officers and chiefs are not picked first of all which may be a good indication that we have the right ones since they actually have to prove knowledge before they are moved to that slot. All of our personel have a great understanding of incident command and SAFETY yeah thats a big one. I've yet to see any of our Chiefs running command right next to a burning structure in khakis and a polo, enough said.
 
ptc
Comments: 3
Joined: 07/03/2007
07/07/2007 08:16:13 PM
Dear inhoc79,
It's obvious which of the 2 departments had the better level of service and training, just look at the report of the fire studies and the Insurance Service Office ratings. Why would any department anywhere want to take on a rookie without seeing what he really can do? If you had just gotten out of the army & joined the marines, you'd go thru boot camp. The Post & Fort O have worked very hard & are very proud of the accomplishment of their ISO Class 3 rating, I don't think they want to jeopardize that or risk an injury to you or a fellow firefighter. Why do citizens on one side of the county pay less in insurance premiums? It certainly isn't because they've allowed thier community to stay trapped in the backhills belief of the good ol' boy system. As one of the members said "they only get the right to pick their boss & eat a free meal once a month." Voting on a chief doesn't help the citizens in their pocket book. Their are plenty of good men on both sides of the county, and I truly believe that those who have the passion for the job & the dedications to their community will come together & make a great department, no matter who the chief is.

 
inhoc79
Comments: 4
Joined: 07/06/2007
07/06/2007 11:14:20 AM
I think that this whole merging thing is ludacis why mess with a great thing? F/O has its good things and bad and so does catoosa. No fire department is perfect. However I have been involved with both fire departments and i have to admit I think Catoosa does a finer job on training, incident command, and picking officers and chiefs. All of the officers and above are experienced well trained frirefighters first and foremost. I have had my differences with some of them but who hasn't. I have friends on both fire departments and in the end we are all doing the same job. We all Volunteered to do this. The only Question I have is this ; About two years ago i moved out of catoosa fire and rescues district into Fort O I went to join the fire dept there and they brought me on. I was told that i had to train under their rules and regulations and retake the recruit class, I had just completed catoosa's recruit class 6 months earlier, I was told that my training was insufficient even though I had a State of Georgia MOD 1 certificate and a Catoosa County Fire and rescue Certificate for completing the course for firefighter one. If the departments do merge isn't that gonna contradict the training on each of the fire departments and is everyone gonna have to re train in order to meet the others requirements? I think the chiefs of Catoosa County are stand up and I think we owe all of our Volunteers and paid crews a big thank you regardless of the outcome. One day I hope to return to the Catoosa County Fire Dept and I hope i get to serve under Chief gass again I would hate to see that change.
 
PVFD855
Comments: 2
Joined: 07/05/2007
07/05/2007 03:28:35 PM
I have a huge problem with the words rival and chaotic being used to describe the organization that I am proudly a part of. Every department accross the nation is put into the same situations every day. Some days we fight fire. others we run med calls, or rescue calls, and even some days like it or not we have to deal with our fair politicians. Is it fun ALL the time? Do we agree ALL the time? Absolutely not. We are charged, and have willingly accepted, a job, a passion, a brotherhood, that has become a part of all of our lives. Mr. Webster has described chaotic as a completely confused or disordered condition. My friend you may say what you want, I have yet to see my department act that way. I have seen people in other parts of the state that have chosen to pass along compliments, and plenty of them, about my well trained and highly disciplined brothers. We may not always get everything right, but we do make a positive impression and impact on the people we come in contact with. That could be the citizens that we assist on a call or it could be another firefighter somewhere in the state that we talk to, or that sees us wearing our shirt very proudly, and acting in a appropriate manner when doing so. We are proud of our department, as you should be sir. We are proud of our national fire service, as you should be sir. We are also very proud of the job we do every time we roll out. We are highly trained, we do a very dangerous job, and do it well. Other people notice this and other people notice our attitudes as well. Call politicians rivals. Call politicians chaotic. Leave your brothers out of it.

 
maggie
Comments: 1381
Joined: 01/08/2006
07/03/2007 09:11:10 AM
Thank you fofire 8, fireman1, and fofr906 for putting all of this in perspective. When I read the post you referred to, I too wondered what rival? These are fire departments, not high school football teams. Our county has grown by leaps and bounds over the past 10 to 15 years and our fire departments have to keep up with the growth. Personally, I think combining the departments and bringing in someone not from this area is a good choice. I also want to take this opportunity to thank you for all you do.
 
fofire8
Comments: 13
Joined: 07/02/2007
07/02/2007 05:37:41 PM
Once again, overeaction to a newspaper article has made headlines. Both departments, their respective chiefs, and commisioners have been discussing the merging of fire services in Catoosa for years. Two studies have been done in an effort to save tax dollars and make fire and medical responses better in the county. Both studies have pointed to the combination being cost effective. The best way to make it work is to have an outside chief, unaffililated to either department and unaffected by politics or emotional ties, to be paid a fair salary for his or her efforts. Citizens of Catoosa County deserve the best possible level of service, and if hurting a few feelings are the result, so be it. As stated by the previous comments, let's let the process go forward, allow discussions to be held, and come up with the best solutions. The fire service is about protecting lives and property. No matter what happens, I will be a volunteer firefighter, regardless of which chief is in charge, as long as my assistance is needed.

 
fireman1
Comments: 2
Joined: 06/30/2007
07/02/2007 05:06:33 PM
I'm amazed at how people act when people dont want to accept change. I agree with John Wayne's post, the fire department is a "brotherhood". Does the fact that we come from two different department's make us different. No! We get on the trucks and we go to the calls and we do our job. Do we do it for the pay? Do we do it because a certain person is the Chief? Or do you do it because it's a social status for you? If you answered to "Yes" to any of those then you need to find a new passion. Saying there is such a thing as a rival fire department is completely ludacris. We are bound by hundred's of years of brother's that have given everything and sometimes made the ultimate sacrifice of giving thier life. I hope the department's can come to some sort of agreement on what needs to be done. I hope that those of you who call yourself a fireman really dig deep and decide why you do what you do.........

 
ringgoldone
Comments: 545
Joined: 07/24/2006
07/02/2007 12:50:48 PM
There are a lot of services that need to be combined in Catoosa County. I'm just not sure we can trust anything King Clark says or does. Kind of like Judd.
 
fofr906
Comments: 12
Joined: 07/01/2007
07/01/2007 06:33:03 PM
In 16 years of fire service I have never had anyone refer to another fire department or company as a rival. The fire service is a brotherhood, not a football field where we come together and play a game of life and chance. Firefighters are a special breed, few people answer the call and that number decreases every year. It troubles me to hear a brother make such a statement and it makes me question if that person is truely is in the job for the right reasons. Anyone who has had any bugitary or manigerial training would realize the cost savings accociated with combining departments. If not there would not be departments all across the country doing so every year. The right choice is very often the most difficult choice, but that choice starts with dialog between all parties involved. Consolidation should have happened 25 years ago, and it probably won't happen now once the good ole boy system gets through. But one day it will happen, we all can bet on that.

 
ks27110
Comments: 1
Joined: 06/30/2007
06/30/2007 11:27:33 PM
I would like to first start by saying that I am a very proud citizen of Catoosa County, a lifelong resident and a Volunteer at the local (currently un-combined) Catoosa Fire and Rescue Department. I have come to know many people, families and residents of our County and made bonds with alot of fellow firefighters over the last several years. I have come to know our (Catoosa Fire Dept.) as a very special and unique place that is filled with common people like me that adore the fact of serving the community with the highest level of services at a minimal amount of cost to our County and its citizens. It however is very troubling to know that our Commisioners want to combine the Fort Oglethorpe Fire Dept. along with the Ringgold-Catoosa Fire and Rescue Department to what is said to reduce operating costs and enhance a(n) already effective Fire Service in Catoosa County. It is alarming at the rate of loss we will experience( of trained and willing volunteer's ) by combining our Department with a rival and chaotic Fort Oglethorpe Department. As we all know it is in the best interests of all of Catoosa County not to bring and mix our operating costs, to provide the City of Fort Oglethorpe even more of our hard earned and often poorly managed tax dollars.

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