2017 FD Annual Report

FORSYTH COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT 2017 ANNUAL REPORT

2018BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Administration In Appreciation Rick Swope Doug Derrer Forsyth County would like to thank Rick Swope, who served as the District 2 commissioner from January through August 2017, and Doug Derrer, who retired as county manager in April 2017. 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4. Command Staff 5. Goals/Mission Statement/Budget 6. Message from the Fire Chief 7. Organizational Chart 8. Fire Department Divisions 14. Existing Fire Stations 18. Fire Department Facilities 19. Future Fire Stations 20. Fleet/Specialty Apparatus 22. 2017 Year in Review 30. Historical Overview 3

Danny D. Bowman Barry Head Jason Shivers Brenda Green Steve Baker Command Staff Danny D. Bowman Chief of Department and Director, Emergency Management Agency (EMA), is responsible for all aspects of fire and rescue operations for Forsyth County, oversees all EMA operations, and directs and advises on homeland security issues. Bowman joined the Forsyth County Fire Department as division chief in 2001 and was promoted to assistant fire chief and EMA director in 2002. He has served as chief of department since July 2003. Starting his career as a firefighter for the Atlanta Fire Department in 1968, Bowman worked his way up the ranks, eventually serving in the chief administrator capacity for the newly formed Fulton County Fire Department and later as the deputy fire chief, interim fire chief and battalion chief for Fulton County. He is active in the community and fire services industry, previously holding the position of president for both the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs and the Metropolitan Atlanta Area Fire Chiefs Association. He also served on the Thompson Group, a Washington, D.C. advisory panel for the Fair Labor and Standards Act. Brenda Green Division Chief of Fire Administration, joined the department in 1995, serving for 18 years as an administrative specialist; administrative specialist, senior; and administrative assistant, senior. Green also served in the Forsyth County Tax Commissioner’s Office prior to joining the department. She is a board member of the Benefit Fund, which provides assistance to families of fallen firefighters. Barry Head Division Chief of Field Operations, joined Forsyth County in 1986 as a volunteer firefighter, and has since held the titles of firefighter, fire inspector, fire investigator, lieutenant, captain and battalion chief. He also served previously in the positions of deputy sheriff, corporal and sergeant for the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and Division Chief, Fire Marshal’s Office. Jason Shivers Division Chief of Technical Services, joined the department in 1998, holding the positions of firefighter/EMT, fire lieutenant and inspector general. Shivers has the honor of holding a seat on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1901, 1906, 1911 and 1912 committees governing national fire apparatus standards. Steve Baker Division Chief, Fire Marshal’s Office, joined Forsyth County in 1989 as a 911 dispatcher, and has since held the titles of deputy sheriff, deputy marshal and building official. Baker joined the Fire Marshal’s Office in 2012 where he has served as fire inspector, fire investigator, senior plans examiner and deputy fire marshal. 4

GOALS Prevent incidents from occurring through code enforcement, public education and fire prevention activities. Mitigate hazards by handling all service requests in a professional manner. Provide the highest quality of service in a professional and caring manner. Encourage and support employee development, enhancing proficiency and professionalism. Promote the heath and safety of our employees. MISSION STATEMENT The Forsyth County Fire Department protects life, property and the environment from the ravages of fire and all other emergencies, both natural and man made, and provides citizens and visitors with emergency medical pre-hospital care in a highly effective manner with the best trained personnel possible. FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET The Forsyth County Fire Department 2017 budget was $21,090,220. The Fire Department’s primary funding source is the Fire Department millage rate. Additionally, funds from both Impact Fees and the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) provide the department funding for special projects and capital purchases. MILLAGE RATE FIRE MILLAGE RATE The Fire Department is funded by a separate property tax, or 2011-2017 millage rate, rather than through the use of Forsyth County’s General Fund resources. The Fire Department’s 2017 millage 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 rate remained at 1.975. Forsyth County’s millage rates 1.975 1.975 1.975 1.975 1.975 1.975 1.975 continue to be among the lowest in the metro Atlanta area. IMPACT FEES The Fire Department also receives funding from the county’s Impact Fee program. Impact Fees are a charge on development to pay for the construction or expansion of capital improvements that are necessitated by and benefit the development. Forsyth County’s Impact Fee program began in January 2004 and, as of April 30, 2018, has collected $14,005,922 for the Fire Department. These funds can only be used to construct capital facilities such as fire stations or to purchase capital firefighting equipment. SPLOST Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) is a one-percent county sales tax used to fund capital projects such as buildings and other public facilities. The current SPLOST program, SPLOST VII, was approved by Forsyth County voters in November 2011 and went into effect July 1, 2013. The SPLOST VII program anticipates $3.9 million in funding for scheduled fire apparatus replacement. The current SPLOST program will run through June 30, 2019. 5

A message from the FIRE CHIEF THIS ANNUAL REPORT, published now for more than a decade, is intended to present to our citizens an easy-to-read overview of the operations of Forsyth County’s Fire Department. You may be surprised to read about the many different ways in which we serve the community – beyond fighting fires. In fact, approximately eight out of 10 of the more than 14,000 emergencies we responded to in 2017 were to incidents which were ‘rescue’ related. Not a week passes that I am not quizzed as to why a fire truck responded to an incident when it was a medical emergency. The simple answer is time, or what is referred to in the fire service as the ‘golden hour.’ Time is of the essence and generally fire personnel are able to arrive on scene to all manner of emergencies more quickly than an ambulance. Our firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians are trained, equipped and expected to respond to all emergencies which threaten life or property. When fire is the threat, you may rest assured that your firefighters are highly motivated and well trained, responding in modern fire apparatus to the call. Another goal of this report is to highlight progress from 2017: • On August 22, 2017, the Board of Commissioners gave unanimous approval for a joint venture whereby new Fire Station 11 (to be located on Pittman Road) would be constructed to include a new Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office west precinct. • On November 2, 2017, we took delivery of two new Pierce Arrow XT pumpers for Company 2 (Fowler Park) and Company 15 (Haw Creek). • An estimated 2,000 children were provided holiday gifts by way of the Aerial’s House toy collection. As fire chief I sincerely thank you for your trust and support. It is truly our honor to serve you. Danny D. Bowman Chief of Department Director, Emergency Management Agency Below: Company 2 (left) and Company 15 (right) receive new apparatus with traditional “push-in” ceremonies. 6

ORGANIZATIONALForsyth County Fire Department CHART 7

Fire Divisions Fire AdministrationDivision Chief: Brenda Green Division Chief of Fire Administration Brenda Green oversees the day-to-day operations of Fire Department Headquarters. 1 Division Chief 1 Administrative Assistant 1 Administrative Specialist The Fire Administration Division manages human resources, payroll, reporting, budget control, statistics and public assistance. Forsyth County Emergency Management Agency 1 Director 1 Deputy Director 1 Emergency Management Specialist Forsyth County’s Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is the local lead agency for coordination of emergency and disaster response for Forsyth County and the City of Cumming. The agency’s mission is to provide a comprehensive and aggressive mitigation and emergency preparedness, response and recovery program for Forsyth County citizens in order to save lives, protect property and reduce effects of disasters. The EMA operates the Emergency Operations Center in the Public Safety Complex, which in times of major emergencies serves as the central operations location for critical public safety agencies of Forsyth County. 8

Fire Divisions Fire MarshalDivision Chief: Steve Baker Division Chief and Fire Marshal Steve Baker oversees and manages the Fire Marshal’s Office to include fire code enforcement, plan review and fire investigations, as well as the department’s public safety education efforts. 1 Division Chief 1 Deputy Fire Marshal 5 Fire Inspectors 2 Plans Reviewers 2 Arson Investigators 3 1Fire Prevention Training Officers Administrative Specialist Fire Marshal’s Office Through building plans review and fire inspections, this division plays an integral role in the construction of new buildings and ensuring those structures are built to meet or exceed current fire codes. This division also investigates any fire that is suspicious in nature, unlawfully set or of which the cause cannot be immediately determined. Public Safety Education Educating community members about fire prevention and the dangers of fire is an important initiative of the Forsyth County Fire Department. Each year, the department’s Public Safety Education efforts reach thousands of people, educating them about fire prevention and the dangers of fire, as well as the many services offered to the community by the Fire Department. This division works routinely in local schools and offers fire safety education to any interested party. Additionally, this division installs smoke alarms for elderly and needy citizens and operates the department’s Fire Safety House. This division also manages the department’s C.A.R.S. (Children Are Riding Safely) program which, through its nationally certified Child Safety Seat Technicians, provides the public with free child safety seat inspections and installations. 9

Fire Divisions Technical ServicesDivision Chief: Jason Shivers Division Chief of Technical Services Jason Shivers oversees and manages the emergency medical services, motor maintenance, quartermaster and training missions of the department. He is also the department’s primary point-of-contact for new apparatus design and specifications and new firehouse design and specifications, and serves as the department spokesperson. 1 Division Chief 1 EMS Coordinator 3 Motor Maintenance Staff 2 Quartermaster Staff 3 Full-Time Training Staff 1 Part-Time Training Staff Emergency Medical Services Coordinator This office oversees all medical training and emergency medical services quality control, acting as the liaison with the county emergency medical transport contractor. The coordinator ensures all Fire Department Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) functions follow procedures and maintain state of Georgia requirements. Additionally, the coordinator is designated as the official ambulance service contract administrator for any provider doing business with Forsyth County. Motor Maintenance Motor Maintenance serves as the critical link keeping the department operable, ensuring all department vehicles are maintained and repaired properly and efficiently. The technicians perform all preventative maintenance and overhauling of department equipment including emergency apparatus, staff vehicles and small tools and equipment, and have the ability to perform in-house metal fabrication. Quartermaster This office ensures the field is supplied with tools and uniforms, and maintains the stock of supplies for all fire stations and the Fire Department Headquarters. Additionally, the quartermaster acts as the primary point-of-contact for the fire chief on Fire Department facility needs and is also responsible for the annual testing of all automatic external defibrillators in county facilities. Photo: Firefighters at the department’s training facility practice entering a burning building during a simulated live burn. 10

Training This division trains personnel in all matters of field suppression and rescue functions. This division maintains training records and ensures appropriate personnel are up-to-date with technology, methodology and receiving the required number of training hours for their level of expertise. 11

Fire Divisions Field OperationsDivision Chief: Barry Head Division Chief of Field Operations Barry Head oversees and manages all suppression activities and emergency response provided by the department’s two battalions, 13 companies and special operations sections. 1 Division Chief 6 39 51Battalion Chiefs Fire Lieutenants Fire Apparatus Operators 67 Firefighters 1 Systems Analyst Suppression All administration functions of the department ultimately are conducted to support the Suppression Division, which is the backbone of the Fire Department. This division contains field personnel working in fire stations and responding to the constant requests for assistance from the citizenry. Field personnel are supervised by lieutenants, and lieutenants are supervised by battalion chiefs. Each shift is assigned two battalion chiefs. These officers maintain field personnel records, field payroll and clock times, and command fire scenes and major rescues. All field personnel work on the traditional 24/48- hour schedule. They report to their workstation by 7 a.m. and are in-service working for the citizens for 24 hours. At the end of their shift, they are relieved at 7 a.m. the following morning by the next oncoming shift. Their days off begin and continue for 48 hours. At the end of 48 hours, they return for the next 24-hour shift. Dive Unit Responding out of Fire Station 15, this unit is responsible for rescue and recovery involving deep water. The personnel are highly trained in safely searching for and recovering victims of drownings and routinely assist law enforcement in the recovery of vehicles and evidence from Lake Lanier and surrounding bodies of water. 12

Hazardous Materials Unit This unit is Forsyth County’s first line of defense to the potential ravages of hazardous materials, responding from Fire Station 2 with a full complement of hazardous materials response tools and equipment. Fire personnel at Station 2 are registered as hazardous materials technicians and can respond to and mitigate most any hazardous materials incident. Honor Guard This unit is responsible for honoring fallen public safety professionals and military veterans, with the training and services provided on a voluntary basis by members of the Fire Department. The Honor Guard responds to service requests for funerals, flag presentations and parades and is selected annually to participate in the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Memorial Weekend at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Special Events Unit This specially trained and equipped team is designed for large crowds and events where there is very little room for vehicle access. The bicycle unit participates in parades and high-attendance events at the Cumming Fairgrounds and can be used for response along the Big Creek Greenway. The primary mission is to arrive quickly on the scene of a medical emergency and render aid well before a fire apparatus or ambulance can make access to the patient. Swift Water Rescue Unit This unit responds out of Fire Station 15 and is responsible for rescues involving victims trapped in swiftly moving waters. Primary responses of this unit involve the Chattahoochee River south of Buford Dam and fishermen or boaters stranded in the quickly rising waters. Photo: Firefighters from the suppression unit on scene after a major accident on GA-400. Technical Rescue Unit This unit responds out of Fire Station 12 to highly specialized and detailed rescues including rescuing victims from building collapses, trench collapses, high-angle incidents, confined spaces and many other unusual and dangerous situations. Wildland/Urban Interface Unit This unit responds out of Fire Station 5 and is responsible for combating wildland and brush fires and incidents where wildland meets urban housing. 13

EXISTING FIRE STATIONS Forsyth County has 13 fire stations strategically located for effective coverage across the county. While each station has a designated service area, they frequently respond together on large-scale incidents requiring response by multiple units and also back one another up when a company is unavailable to respond. Battalion One Battalion Two Fire Service Area What is a battalion? The Forsyth County Fire Department geographically divides the county into two distinct areas called battalions. Battalion One in- cludes the fire stations located in the southern portion of the county while Battalion Two includes the fire stations in the northern portion. Dividing the county’s stations into these two groups enables more efficient and rapid response by battalion chiefs, who are the officers within the department tasked with commanding fire scenes and major rescues. One battalion chief is assigned to each of the two battalions. In addition to providing leadership to the field personnel at large-scale events, the battalion chiefs are also responsible for maintaining records, payroll and clock times for the department’s personnel working in the fire stations. 14

Battalion One STATION 1 • Located on 2.41 acres in downtown Cumming at 234 Castleberry Industrial Drive • Four stalls • Opened in 2007 • 24-hour coverage with a minimum of five firefighters • Houses the Office of the First Battalion, Engine 1, Truck 1 and Med 1 STATION 2 • Located on 3.04 acres at 4055 Carolene Way • Four stalls • Opened in 2007 • 24-hour coverage with a minimum of three firefighters • Houses Engine 2, Haz-Mat 2, the Forsyth County Fire Department Hazardous Materials Decontamination Unit and Med 2 • Home of the Forsyth County Fire Department Hazardous Materials Unit STATION 4 • Located on 3.32 acres at 3910 Evans Road • Two stalls • Opened in 2012 • 24-hour coverage with a minimum of three firefighters • Houses Engine 4, Light/Air 4 and Med 4 STATION 6 • Located on 2.92 acres at 3190 Caney Road • Four stalls • Opened in March 2017 • 24-hour coverage with a minimum of three firefighters • Houses Engine 6 and Brush Truck 6 • Construction of the new station was funded by a combination of SPLOST VI funds and Impact Fees STATION 10 • Located on 1.5 acres at 3680 Old Atlanta Road • Two stalls • Constructed in 1999 and expected to last through 2020 • 24-hour coverage with a minimum of three firefighters • Houses Engine 10 and Med 10 15

Battalion One (Continued) STATION 14 • Located on 1 acre at 800 McFarland Parkway • Two stalls • Constructed in 1994 and expected to last through 2019 • 24-hour coverage with a minimum of five firefighters • Houses Engine 14 and Truck 14 STATION 15 • Located on 1 acre at 1525 Buford Highway • Two stalls • Constructed in 1999 and expected to last through 2018 • 24-hour coverage with a minimum of three firefighters • Houses Engine 15, Rescue 15 and the Forsyth County Fire Department Dive and Swift Water Rescue Units’ equipment • Home of the Forsyth County Fire Department Dive Unit and Swift Water Rescue Unit Battalion Two STATION 3 • Located on 3 acres at 6495 Wallace Tatum Road • Two stalls • Opened in 2013 • 24-hour coverage with a minimum of three firefighters • Houses Engine 3, Brush Truck 3 and Med 3 STATION 5 • Located at 2720 Holtzclaw Road on 2 acres, of which 1.25 acres are owned by Forsyth County and 0.75 acres is leased from the Forsyth County Board of Education • Two stalls • Opened in 2005 • 24-hour coverage with a minimum of three firefighters • Houses Engine 5, Tanker 5 and Brush Truck 5 • Home of the Forsyth County Fire Department Wildland/Urban Interface Unit STATION 7 • Located at 6320 Dahlonega Highway • Two stalls • Opened in 2011 • 24-hour coverage with a minimum of three firefighters • Houses Engine 7 and Tanker 7 16

Battalion Two (Continued) STATION 8 • Located at 6015 Keith Bridge Road • Four stalls • Opened in April 2017 • Constructed adjacent to the former station, which was razed in 2016 • 24-hour coverage with a minimum of three firefighters • Houses Engine 8 and Tanker 8 • Construction of the new station was funded by a combination of SPLOST VI funds and Impact Fees STATION 9 • Located on 1 acre at 7385 Browns Bridge Road • Two stalls • Constructed by volunteers in 1989 and expected to last through 2018 • 24-hour coverage with a minimum of three firefighters • Houses Engine 9 and Med 9 • Current station not designed for 24-hour occupancy STATION 12 • Located at 3530 Settingdown Road as part of the Public Safety Complex • Four stalls • Opened in 2006 • 24-hour coverage with a minimum of three firefighters • Houses the Office of the Second Battalion, Engine 12, Rescue 12, the Forsyth County Fire Department Technical Rescue Vehicle and Med 12 • Home of the Forsyth County Fire Department Technical Rescue Unit Photo: A firefighter’s training is never over, and the fire station serves as the site of firefighters’ daily training activities. Firefighters are instructed on proper methods of using a jack on overturned vehicles and how to safely extricate victims of entrapments. 17

FIRE DEPARTMENT FACILITIES FIRE HEADQUARTERS • Located in the Public Safety Complex at 3520 Settingdown Road • Houses the Office of the Fire Chief and all department divisions MOTOR MAINTENANCE TRAINING FACILITY • Located adjacent to the Forsyth County Fire Department Headquarters • Located adjacent to the Forsyth County Fire • Constructed in the mid-1990s Department Headquarters • Services all Fire Department apparatus and vehicles • Includes a pump testing facility, three parts rooms, one light duty lift • Constructed in phases since the mid-1990s • Utilized for a variety of fire training programs including and six heavy truck lifts fire suppression training, high-angle rescue, rope rescue, search and rescue, confined space rescue and roof simulation 18

FUTURE FIRE STATIONS REPLACEMENT STATION CONSTRUCTION BY YEAR ADDITIONAL STATIONS PLANNED AND PROPOSED 19

SPECIALTY APPARATUS BRUSH TRUCKS LIGHT AND AIR UNIT Brush trucks are capable of reaching remote areas and areas not easily The light and air unit is a specialized apparatus equipped with a large accessible by fire engines and trucks. They are highly effective vehicles generator, extensive lighting capabilities, a hydraulic light tower and that are smaller and more maneuverable, allowing them to negotiate narrow breathing air cascade system. The unit is specifically built to work as a pathways, off-road trails and golf cart paths. They are equipped with foam stand-alone tool at large scale incidents that require additional lighting or capabilities that, in wildland fires, suppress better than water alone. call for firefighters’ breathing air to be produced on site. • Three brush trucks were specially designed and put in service in 2005, • The light and air unit was put in service in 2016, replacing a very one each housed at Fire Stations 3, 5 and 10. While the three units outdated truck from the 1980s, and is housed at Fire Station 4. can work in concert on large fires, they are strategically distributed throughout the county to ensure proper coverage of all areas. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRUCK AND DECONTAMINATION UNIT DIVE VAN Apparatus of the Hazardous Materials Unit respond to any hazardous The dive van is utilized by the Dive Unit for all dive rescue and recovery material incident or scare in Forsyth County. operations. • One decontamination unit is housed at Fire Station 2 and was • One dive van is housed at Fire Station 15 and was put in service in purchased using grant funds in 2005. 2006. • In 2009, the Hazardous Materials Unit received a refurbished apparatus redesigned by Fire Department Motor Maintenance. It was converted from an engine to become the primary vehicle, replacing an old truck and trailer vehicle. OUR FLEET BrVuBseahhtitcTlarleiucokn Dive Van Light andUnAiitr Heavy Rescue 20

ATV TECHNICAL RESCUE VEHICLE The versatile ATV assists in responding to medical emergencies or small fires The Technical Rescue Unit’s primary vehicle is a truck and trailer during events in and around the Cumming Fairgrounds, Sawnee Mountain and combination unit containing the tools and equipment necessary to other locations. This ATV performs these missions well on recreational trails perform extremely dangerous and complicated rescues and recoveries. and in crowded, compact environments. This rescue vehicle responds to manufacturing, construction and storm-related incidents resulting in injury and will be on site of any • One ATV, put in service in 2011, is housed at Fire Station 1. disastrous occurrence where life is or could be at stake. It is capable of supporting high-angle, confined space, trench collapse and structural MINI AMBULANCE collapse operations as well as accomplishing the urban search and rescue mission of the department. The truck portion of the unit is The gas-powered mini-ambulance is specifically designed as a detachable and used to transport personnel and supplies into areas lightweight vehicle for emergency medical response along the Big Creek requiring off-road capability. This need is common on construction sites Greenway and within the Fowler Park complex. and during utility right-of-way construction. • One mini ambulance, put in service in 2012, is housed at Station 2. • This unit, housed at Fire Station 12, was put in service in 2006. SPECIAL EVENTS UNIT BICYCLES WILDLAND ATV The bicycles of the Special Events Unit are specially designed for emergency The smaller, highly maneuverable wildland ATV assists brush trucks in medical response. They are rugged tools designed for the demanding rigors fighting wildland fires. The ATV’s firefighting capabilities can be replaced of public safety and require operators who are specially trained for this with a medical response skid unit, enabling it to perform emergency medical unit’s mission. transport in off-road environments. SWIFT WATER RESCUE BOAT • One wildland ATV, purchased in 2005, is housed at Fire Station 3 and has a 60-gallon capacity tank with a 60-gallon per minute pump. The Forsyth County Fire Department was honored in 2010 to receive a $20,000 grant toward the purchase of a swift water rescue boat, which allows for effective operations in shallow and quickly moving waters. • The swift water rescue boat is stationed at Fire Station 15, which is home to the Swift Water Rescue Unit. Tanker HaMzaatreTdrriouaclussk Engine Ladder Truck 21

Citizens’ Fire Academy The annual 10-week long program for adult residents interested in learning more about what career firefighters do was held March through May. Participants learned about the department and its multiple divisions, types of training received and the equipment used – some of which they were able to operate first-hand. New Fire Station 6 Opens in Southern Forsyth County Fire Station 6, located just off of SR 141 on Caney Road, was officially opened on March 27, with a traditional hose uncoupling ceremony. The new station is a four-stall station, designed to accommodate the personnel and equipment that will operate out of the facility currently and to allow for future growth. The Forsyth County Fire Department has 13 fire stations, and naming the new facility Station 6 filled a gap in the facilities’ numbering. Construction of new Fire Station 6 was funded by a combination of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) VI program and Impact Fees. 22

Replacement Fire Forsyth County officially opened new Fire volunteers, was opened in 1984 and had Station 8 Opens in Station 8 on Keith Bridge Road in the far exceeded its life expectancy. The new Northern Forsyth northeast portion of the county with a Fire Station 8 was designed for 24-hour County hose uncoupling ceremony on April 21. occupancy, which the former station was Construction of new Fire Station 8 was not. It is a four-stall facility, better suited funded by a combination of the Special to house the fire apparatus stationed Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) there and to allow for growth and future apparatus placement. VI program and Impact Fees. The new station replaced the former Station 8, which had been built by Annual “Give Burns the Boot”® Drive The Forsyth County Fire Department’s 2017 Raises More Than $35,000 “Give Burns the Boot”® drive generated $35, 453 to support the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation and local fire safety and burn prevention programs. Firefighters collected donations at intersections throughout the county on three consecutive Saturdays in May. 23

Junior Fire Academy: Seventh- and Eighth-Graders Learn the Ins and Outs of Firefighting For the last seven years, the Forsyth County Fire Department has welcomed Forsyth County youth interested in learning what it takes to be a firefighter to sign up for a free week-long daytime summer camp program. The Junior Fire Academy, which is for students entering seventh and eighth grade, was held in June at the Forsyth County Fire Department Headquarters. Those who attended had the opportunity to experience the different aspects of being a career firefighter, from firefighting to CPR. Department Recognizes and Promotes Personnel, Graduates Newest Recruit Class In a ceremony held May 15, the Forsyth County Fire Department presented awards, promoted two personnel and graduated its newest recruit class. Family, friends and Fire Department staff attended the ceremony held at North Forsyth High School. Awards were presented to personnel in the first portion of the ceremony. Four Life Saved awards were presented to Fire Department personnel in recognition of outstanding actions over the past several years. Three of the Life Saved awards were presented to the firefighters by the individuals whose lives they saved. In the promotional portion of the event, two members of the department were formally promoted to new positions. In the graduation portion of the ceremony, 12 recruits officially became Forsyth County firefighters. 24

Safety Town: A Week of Fun for the County’s Youngest Residents The Forsyth County Fire Department participated in Safety Town summer camps hosted by Forsyth County Parks & Recreation for 4- and 5-year-old children. The purpose of Safety Town is to teach young children safety awareness and preventive safety procedures including fire safety, water safety, car and bus safety, stranger danger, poison safety and gun safety. 2015 Fire Department Annual Report Receives National Award The National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO) presented the 2015 Forsyth County Fire Department Annual Report with an Excellence rating in their 2017 Awards of Excellence competition. The Excellence rating means that the report exceeded industry standards among county annual reports. The 2015 report can be viewed on the Fire Department page at forsythco.com. 25

Department Hosts Trunk or Treat Halloween Safety Event at Cumming Fairgrounds In an effort to promote a safe Halloween season and fire safety, personnel from the Forsyth County Fire Department joined other agencies and non-profits on October 21 for the Trunk or Treat event at the Cumming Fairgrounds. Children had the opportunity to have fun while learning about Halloween safety including costume safety, pedestrian safety, stranger danger, stop-drop-roll demonstrations and more. Annual Toy Collection Impacts Local Children More than 7,000 toys were collected during the holiday season for local children in need during the Fire Department’s annual Aerial’s House toy collection. Donations of these toys, plus coats and gift cards, helped make Christmas possible for children who may otherwise not have received any gifts. Donations from the community were collected at all fire stations, the Fire Department Headquarters, County Administration Building and county libraries. Seventh Annual Fire Fire Department Hosts Touch-a-Truck Safety Poster Contest and Child Safety Seat Event The Forsyth County Fire Department invited all local The Forsyth County Fire Department hosted third grade students to participate in the seventh a touch-a-truck and child safety seat annual Fire Safety Poster Contest. Students were given event on September 9 at Fowler Park. The the opportunity to display their creativity and artistic event gave parents and other caregivers an talents while promoting a commitment to fire safety. opportunity to have their child safety seats inspected for proper installation while the kids were able to check out a fire truck up close. Trained technicians inspected child car seats and reviewed information with the parents on how to properly install the seat themselves. 26

Honor Guard Participates in Memorial Day Ceremony The Forsyth County Fire Department Honor Guard participated in the Memorial Day Ceremony held in downtown Cumming on May 29 at the Veterans War Memorial. Ghost Out Allows Teens Chance To Experience Consequences of Risky Decisions On March 18, the Forsyth County Fire Department joined the The life-like program provides a dramatized crash scene that, for the Sheriff’s Office, 911 Center, Central EMS and other public past several years, has taken place at one of Forsyth County’s high safety agencies for the annual Ghost Out event hosted at the schools on a rotating basis. This year, however, the neutral-site location Forsyth County Conference Center at Lanier Technical College. opened it up to teens from across the county. 27

Responses by incident type in 2017 Incident hot spot analysis The map to the left shows the fire incident response density from January 1 - December 31, 2017. Lowest density Highest density In 2017, the Fire Department responded to 14,993 incidents. The total number of Fire Department emergency apparatus movements (a movement is any time an apparatus is dispatched from a station) was 18,247. As is evident, the demand for the county’s emergency fire services has grown steadily over the years and this pattern of growth is expected to continue. 28

2,157Number of times dispatched by station in 2017 Average response time by station in 20171,387 786 The Forsyth County Fire Department’s 2017 average response time for on-scene arrival was five minutes 18 seconds, down from six minutes and 35 seconds in 2016. Fire station response times vary as a result of travel distances and other factors.1,433 958 291,054 392 727 782 1,379 1,012 1,081 1,394 451 4:35 5:30 5:53 5:46 5:04 5:02 5:00 6:29 4:42 5:32 4:59 4:51 5:20

45Reflecting on years PoApdhemortiaont:iisoEtnrnsagtiiinonentB1hueialdlnoidncgavtioisol,un1nt9we7he5er refirethfieghctuerrrecnrtewFodrsoyintgh routine County Historical Overview Ipidnsuetbtpehlariensrtahnmteaiseotnintotahn.la’sAtslFasorogrcseiysattthivoConoluounfnttFeyier,erGfCeiroheriegfias 1972 FCFfioirorermssftimygtthrihttateCienroesinuiignsstsycceraFselilsareeitdoe.Pndr.footrevcotliuonnteer 1983 1987 1990cCnNhaooimurernfies.tdyB’Fseosnrensceyottthndis 1973JiVsoohliunnncCtoer.pe“orJrafaikrteee”ddMeaponaodrrtelem.debnyt Volunteer firefighters filling water reserve in the county’s first apparatus. 30

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Symbolic elements of The Patch The American flag in the upper left corner represents the patriotism and the pride of Forsyth County firefighters in being dedicated public servants. The black field in the lower half of the patch represents mourning and remembering the loss of fellow public safety professionals. The department has experienced three line-of-duty deaths since its inception. The Maltese Cross incorporates the tools and symbols of the modern Forsyth County Fire Department and the services provided.