Grants will bring engines, new turnout gear for county fire service

Sound the alarms! Emanuel County Fire & Rescue has been awarded two federal grants totaling an estimated $777,000 to enhance fire safety and emergency response capabilities.

The funds come from FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program and are part of a broader initiative aimed at upgrading fire protection services in rural and underserved areas across Georgia, led by U.S. senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock. The entire pot of money is worth more than $8.5 million and is being spread across 20 other communities in the state—many of which are largely rural like our own.

According to the senators, this is by design.

“Firefighters in Emanuel County and across Georgia put their lives on the line to keep families safe,” said Senator Ossoff. “Senator Warnock and I will never stop championing Georgia’s heroic fire departments, and these new resources for Emanuel County will help them respond to emergencies that threaten lives and property.”

Senator Reverend Warnock added, “I’m proud to have played a role in getting this critical funding secured. Our firefighters and EMS responders are some of the best and bravest among us, and every fire department throughout Georgia, especially in our rural communities like Emanuel County, ought to have the resources and support they need to protect our communities.”

The largest of the two grants coming to Emanuel ($742,857.14 to be exact) will be used to purchase two new fire engines. Specifications of the engines have yet to be finalized, but Public Safety Coordinator Courtney Terwilliger is hopeful they will both have the capacity to carry and pump 3,000 gallons of water each, thereby addressing one of the county’s key challenges: inadequate water supply due to hydrant scarcity in rural areas.

“This grant alone is a huge win for Emanuel County,” Terwilliger said. “Eleven of the 12 engines we have today were bought in 1999 and received in 2000. That makes them nearly 25-years-old and while they’ve served us well, they’re becoming outdated and harder to maintain, especially when it comes to the electronics used in them. The new engines will allow us to firefight more effectively, given how rural most of Emanuel is. They’ll also allow us to firefight longer with a first-responding crew.”

One of the new engines will be placed in Oak Park. Terwilliger says that was a strategic call made by studying the equipment on-hand at each station and evaluating the risks in different areas of the county.

“Oak Park is one of the busiest fire departments in the county. Much of this volume is due to traffic accidents and vehicle fires along the I-16 corridor,” he said. “The county-owned engine down there is still in use, but the Oak Park and county tankers were far beyond their life expectancy and have been for a while, so we knew right off the bat where one of the new engines would go.”

The second grant, valued at $34,808.52, will be used to purchase 10 new sets of turnout gear. Ten old sets will be retired as a result, helping Emanuel County Fire & Rescue in its quest to adhere to the National Fire Protection Association’s recommendation to do so every 10 years.

County Administrator Guy Singletary stresses the long-term benefits of the two grants.

“We set aside $1 million in SPLOST for fire services. That sounds like a lot of money, but in reality, it’s not. A single new engine runs about $350,000. Do the math on two engines and that’s 70 percent of what we initially budgeted,” he explained. “Fortunately, we only have to contribute a 5 percent match for the combined total of these grants. That frees up a ton of SPLOST money for fire. If we got into a situation where we absolutely had to buy two new engines without grant money like this, we would’ve had to stretch the remaining 30 percent of those SPLOST funds for 6 years or dip into another revenue source. But again, thankfully we don’t have to worry about that now.”

Emanuel County commissioners have voiced their support for the grant awards.

District 1 Commissioner Kawame Coleman stated, “When I first joined the board, I was anxious to see what kind of improvements I could be part of—not for myself but for the citizens who elected me. This grant is a huge step forward in making sure our firefighters have the best tools at their disposal, which is good news for everybody. And that’s what being a commissioner is all about: taking care of our folks.”

District 2 Commissioner Ricky Thompson emphasized, “My district [like District 1] is unique because it includes parts of Swainsboro, the county’s largest municipality. I think it goes without saying that it’s extremely important for our fire departments to work together, no matter if they’re a city department like Swainsboro Fire or a volunteer department run by the county because emergencies don’t respect city or county lines. In those situations, our county’s rural fire teams and Swainsboro Fire often combine resources, equipment, and personnel. These grants will only strengthen the joint efforts between Emanuel County Fire & Rescue and Swainsboro Fire Department, ensuring everyone from the city to the countryside is protected.”

District 3 Commissioner John Moore said, “As the newest commissioner, I’m proud to join a board that prioritizes fire and public safety. It’s exciting to start my tenure with investments like these, which show how committed Emanuel County is to equipping our firefighters with the tools they need to protect our community. I was a volunteer firefighter with Norristown and a first responder for many years, and I’m currently on the Pineland board. Because of both my past work in responding to emergency situations and my current experiences with Pineland, I understand the importance of having reliable equipment to get the job done, and I look forward to seeing what else we can accomplish together.”

District 4 Commissioner Jim Sherrod added, “Living way out in one of the most remote parts of the county, I know how critical it is to have reliable fire services. Thanks to these grants, our firefighters can respond quicker, even in the furthest reaches of Emanuel, where every minute counts.”

District 5 Commissioner Timmy Oliver volunteers as a firefighter, so he has a unique perspective of why the money matters. “I’ve seen firsthand how important it is to have reliable equipment when responding to emergencies,” he offered. “These grants will make sure we can continue protecting our neighbors and families effectively.”

The latest grants add to the nearly $1.6 million in federal funding secured for fire services in Emanuel County during Terwilliger’s tenure—a total that includes nearly $428,000 awarded to Twin City Volunteer Fire Department last summer to purchase a new engine and an additional $289,000 this past July to equip that engine when it’s delivered sometime later this year or early next.

“With the new fire truck and new equipment for the fire truck funded, we hope these investments in our fire services will provide benefits to the people of Twin City,” said Twin City Mayor Matt Donaldson. “We are actively working to improve our ISO fire rating. With a lower ISO rating, this should lower the property insurance premiums for our citizens.”

Local firefighters and citizens alike are also looking forward to the benefits these grants will bring.

Adrian Fire Chief Justin Johnson has been a volunteer since 2011. He says the new gear alone is a win, and the new engines are a bonus.

“We’re definitely appreciative of what we have, but given the nature of what we do, there’s always room for improvement when it comes to turnout gear. It’s what keeps us alive when we’re running into potentially deadly situations. If your fire suit’s got a hole in it, you’re looking at serious burns. If your mask has a leak, you’re risking smoke inhalation that could put you on the sidelines or worse. If your gloves aren’t insulated good, you could lose critical dexterity when handling tools or rescuing someone. At the end of the day, we’re trying to save lives and get home—and if you’re able to get there a little faster in a new, shiny, reliable truck, well, that’s even better.”

As for Penny Jones from Oak Park, the money provides a sense of inclusion from all levels of government.

“I’m excited! We in Oak Park have a wide area to cover, including Interstate 16, so we especially need up-to-date equipment and vehicles. It’s great to see our local, state, and even federal officials not only recognize the need but do something to address it. That doesn’t always happen for places like little old Oak Park, so when it does, it’s nice.”

However, it will take some time before the new equipment arrives. The fire engines are expected to be delivered within 18 to 24 months while the turnout gear will arrive sooner—within approximately 6 months.

This announcement comes on the heels of another major public safety improvement earlier this year when Emanuel County EMS added two new ambulances to their fleet, thanks to SPLOST VI. The county continues to prioritize public safety, ensuring emergency personnel have the equipment and resources they need to serve the community.

Emanuel County Fire and Rescue is committed to protecting lives and property through fire prevention, emergency response, and public safety education. Operating countywide, the department offers fire suppression, rescue services, and emergency medical assistance. For more information, visit www.emanuelco-ga.gov/211/Fire-Rescue.To join our lifesaving team, click the firefighter hat on our homepage to access the application form. For general inquiries, contact Fire & Rescue staff at 478-237-3169. For emergencies, always call 911.

The Emanuel County Board of Commissioners governs Emanuel County, focusing on legislative and administrative responsibilities. Comprised of representatives from five districts, the board oversees policies and programs that impact local development, budgeting, and public services. Commissioners work collectively to ensure fiscal responsibility and address community needs, collaborating with other county departments and agencies. They are committed to supporting economic growth, public safety, and community well-being across Emanuel County.

For more information about the commissioners and for the latest from the county government, visit call 478-237-3881; follow us on Facebook; or visit www.emanuelco-ga.gov.