2018 Fire Department Annual Report

FORSYTH COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT 2018 ANNUAL REPORT

2019 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Administration In Appreciation Forsyth County would like to thank outgoing District 1 Commissioner R.J. (Pete) Amos for his service. Amos left office at the end of 2018. 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. 2018 Year in Review 30. Historical Overview 3

FIRE DEPARTMENT COMMAND STAFF Barry Head Chief of Department Barry Head joined Forsyth County in 1986 as a volunteer firefighter, and has since held the titles of firefighter, fire inspector, fire investigator, lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, and most recently, Division Chief of Field Operations. 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. Brenda Green In Appreciation Division Chief of Fire Administration Brenda Green joined the Forsyth County would like department in 1995, serving for 18 years as an administrative to thank Danny D. Bowman, specialist; administrative specialist, senior; and administrative assistant, who served as the chief of senior. Green also served in the Forsyth County Tax Commissioner’s department and director of Office prior to joining the department. She is a board member of the Emergency Management the Benefit Fund, which provides assistance to families of fallen Agency (EMA). Bowman joined the Forsyth County Fire Jason Shivers Department as division chief in 2001 and was promoted to Division Chief of Technical Services Jason Shivers joined the assistant fire chief department in 1998, holding the positions of firefighter/EMT, fire and EMA director in 2002. lieutenant and inspector general. Shivers has the honor of holding He served as chief a seat on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1901, of department 1906, 1911 and 1912 committees governing national fire apparatus beginning in July 2003, retiring on October 16, 2018. Jason Stover Division Chief, Fire Marshal Jason Stover joined the Forsyth County Fire Department as Division Chief in 2019 with more than 25 years of local and international public safety-related experience. Stover has served as a volunteer firefighter, patrol officer, investigator, accreditation manager, division commander and law enforcement/investigations subject matter expert. 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 2018 budget was $23,164,901. 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, 2012-2018 or millage rate, rather than through the use of Forsyth County’s General Fund resources. The Fire Department’s 2018 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 millage 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, 2019, has collected $16,187,936.49 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. In November 2018, thanks to voters, the Fire Department was included in the SPLOST VIII program. 5

A message from the FIRE CHIEF GREETINGS FORSYTH COUNTY. 2018 once again Those troops have already been hired and are currently in our arduous 36-week recruit program that we manage in-house. We proved to be a very dynamic year of progress and thoughtful growth also received a gracious Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation for your Forsyth County Fire Department. It also was a year when grant for a full complement of personal flotation devices and rescue we said “thank you” to now-retired Fire Chief Danny Bowman. throw bags that will outfit every fire apparatus with these lifesaving tools during heavy rains and urban flooding. I would be remiss if I didn’t begin by mentioning that Chief Bowman hung up his white helmet and retired from our ranks on October 16 Our community outreach and education efforts, one of our most after 50 years of faithful service to Georgia and Forsyth County. important functions as public servants, also had a banner year. Coming here fresh off of a full career with the Fulton County Fire Working with our partners in the Forsyth County School System we system in 2001 he was named our third fire chief in July of 2003. embarked on an aggressive campaign to give our area teachers and During his 15 years serving as Forsyth County’s fire chief he oversaw bus drivers critical training in the Stop-the-Bleed campaign. The the largest expansion and modernization of the department’s 46- training and kits that each teacher and driver received arms them year history. The men and women of the fire department join me in with the knowledge and confidence to save a life in the event of a congratulating Chief Bowman on his well-deserved retirement but, traumatic bleeding injury. more importantly, thanking him for his service. Finally, our community risk reduction team once again saw record Retired Fire Chief Bowman (left) speaking with newly named Chief Head (center) participation as we conducted the successful citizens’ fire before Head’s swearing in ceremony in January. academy, junior fire academy, ghost out, safety town, trunk-or-treat, vial of life, and aerial’s house toy drive programs as well as our ever On March 23 the department’s first career firefighters, hired in 1998, increasingly popular child safety seat instruction. celebrated their 20th anniversary with the department. As of this writing, 15 of those 30 still serve in various positions of leadership In closing, please allow me this humbling opportunity to express and authority in our ranks. how honored I am to serve as your fire chief, the fourth in the proud history of the Forsyth County Fire Department. Our department A significant step forward for our service delivery strategy occurred motto, service through tradition, excellence, and integrity, perfectly in 2018 as the long-awaited design work began on future Fire sums up how your firefighters carry themselves as they work for you Station #11. Three acres of pasture on Pittman Road just west of day in and day out. With an eye on the future… its intersection with Bethelview Road will become a new fire station to serve the western-central portion of the county and can be Respectfully, expected to open early in 2020. Also, thanks to the ardent support of the Board of Commissioners, in 2018 we purchased a tract of Barry G. Head land on Martin Road in northern Forsyth County that will be the future heartbeat of the fire department’s training and logistics Chief of Department operations. Forsyth County Fire Department Always conservative and thoughtful in our budgeting we were proud to be the recipients of two major grant awards in 2018. The FEMA-managed SAFER Grant was awarded for funding of the 12 firefighter positions that will be needed at Fire Station #11. 6

Forsyth County Fire Department ORGANIZATIONAL CHART 7

Fire Divisions Fire AdministrationDivision Chief: Brenda GreenDdaivyi-stioo-ndaCyhoiepfeoraftFioirnesAodfmFiinreisDtreaptaiortnmBernetndHaeaGdrqeueanrtoevresr.sees the 1 1 1Division Administrative Chief Assistant Financial Operations Supervisor The Fire Administration Division manages human resources, payroll, reporting, budget control, statistics and public assistance. Fire Marshal’s OfficeDivision Chief: Jason StoverDmethniavefinosdariceogepnemasCretthmnhietee,f,nFpFtilr’aisernepMruMeabvarlisirecshwhasalaa’slfneJOdtafysffiioercendeuiSntctovaoetivnsieoctrnilguoeadvfteefioorfsrnirtesese,.csaosadnwedell as 1 Division 1 Deputy 5 2Fire Plans 2 Arson Chief Fire Marshal Inspectors Reviewers Investigators 3 Fire Prevention 1 Administrative Training Officers Specialist Fire Marshal’s Office Public Safety Education routinely in local schools and offers fire safety education to any interested Through building plans review and Educating community members about party. Additionally, this division installs fire inspections, this division plays fire prevention and the dangers of fire smoke alarms for elderly and needy an integral role in the construction is an important initiative of the Forsyth citizens and operates the department’s of new buildings and ensuring those County Fire Department. Each year, the Fire Safety House. This division also structures are built to meet or department’s Public Safety Education manages the department’s C.A.R.S. exceed current fire codes. This efforts reach thousands of people, (Children Are Riding Safely) program division also investigates any educating them about fire prevention and which, through its nationally certified fire that is suspicious in nature, the dangers of fire, as well as the many Child Safety Seat Technicians, provides unlawfully set or of which the cause services offered to the community by the public with free child safety seat cannot be immediately determined. the Fire Department. This division works inspections and installations. 8

Fire Divisions FTiercehAndicmalinSeisrtvriacteisonDivision Chief: BJaresnodnaSGhrievenrsDmqaaasulpnpisavapdooinrsaksattrieeopgahsrneetempucsCedsiafrthesishdcipteoeeaaefnstrer.oitimogamfnnneTesderan,gcnttaerhd’snanndiscipncpyrsianeiemmlgcrSieavmfeedricysriiscavpasiatcoisiloeoisnnsntethss-Jreovaaofidnsfc-cedoetophnsnnae,eStrmwtdahmecoivfptteieoarnfrerorstthrmmoonauveeiesnnwretts.edeHneeaessniigacsnned, 1 Division 1 EMS 3 Motor Maintenance 2 Quartermaster Chief Coordinator Staff Staff 3 Full-Time 1 Part-Time Training Staff Training Staff Emergency Motor Maintenance Quartermaster Medical Services Motor Maintenance serves as the This office ensures the field is sup- Coordinator critical link keeping the department plied with tools and uniforms, and operable, ensuring all department maintains the stock of supplies for This office oversees all medical vehicles are maintained and re- all fire stations and the Fire Depart- training and emergency medical paired properly and efficiently. The ment Headquarters. Additionally, the services quality control, acting as technicians perform all preven- quartermaster acts as the primary the liaison with the county emer- tative maintenance and over- point-of-contact for the fire chief on gency medical transport contractor. hauling of department equipment Fire Department facility needs and The coordinator ensures all Fire including emergency apparatus, is also responsible for the annual Department Basic Life Support staff vehicles and small tools and testing of all automatic external (BLS) and Advanced Life Support equipment, and have the ability to defibrillators in county facilities. (ALS) functions follow procedures perform in-house metal fabrication. and maintain state of Georgia requirements. Additionally, the coor- Training This division trains personnel in all dinator is designated as the official matters of field suppression and rescue ambulance service contract functions. This division maintains training records and ensures appropriate administrator for any provider doing personnel are up-to-date with technology, methodology and receiving the business with Forsyth County. required number of training hours for their level of expertise. 9

Fire Divisions Field Operations Ta1chch3etieicvDfoiitomvifeipsFsaiioneanilneddCsOheapimenefderaorsgtfpieoFennicecsilyadplroOeossppipeetoriroaannttsiioeiosnnpsisrnoostvverieadcrnetsisdoeintebissyo.ntaAhnasednoddmfewatphnialialrstgbmpeeusefbnialltlilec’lsdasttuiwinoponp2,r0bet1asht9set.iaodlniivoinssio, n 1 Division 6 Battalion 39 Fire 51 Fire Apparatus Chief Chiefs Lieutenants Operators 67 1Firefighters Systems Analyst Suppression Photo: Courtesy of Ben Hendron Photography All administration functions of the Dive Unit department ultimately are con- ducted to support the Suppression Responding out of Fire Station Division, which is the backbone of 15, this unit is responsible for the Fire Department. This division rescue and recovery involving contains field personnel working in deep water. The personnel are fire stations and responding to the highly trained in safely searching constant requests for assistance for and recovering victims of from the citizenry. Field personnel drownings and routinely assist are supervised by lieutenants, and law enforcement in the lieutenants are supervised by bat- recovery of vehicles and talion chiefs. Each shift is assigned evidence from Lake Lanier and two battalion chiefs. These officers surrounding bodies of water. 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. Photo: Courtesy of Ben Hendron Photography 10

Hazardous Special Events Unit Materials Unit This specially trained and equipped This unit is Forsyth County’s first team is designed for large crowds line of defense to the potential and events where there is very little ravages of hazardous materials, room for vehicle access. The bicycle responding from Fire Station 2 unit participates in parades and with a full complement of hazard- high-attendance events at the ous materials response tools and Cumming Fairgrounds and can be equipment. Fire personnel at Station used for response along the Big 2 are registered as hazardous Creek Greenway. The primary materials technicians and can mission is to arrive quickly on the respond to and mitigate most any scene of a medical emergency and hazardous materials incident. render aid well before a fire apparatus or ambulance can make access to the patient. 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. 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. Swift Water Photo: Courtesy of Ben Hendron Photography Rescue Unit Wildland/Urban This unit responds out of Fire Station 5 and is This unit responds out of Fire Interface Unit responsible for combating wildland and brush Station 15 and is responsible fires and incidents where wildland meets urban for rescues involving victims housing. trapped in swiftly moving wa- ters. Primary responses of this unit involve the Chattahoochee River south of Buford Dam and fishermen or boaters stranded in the quickly rising waters. 11

Photo: Courtesy of Ben Hendron Photography 12

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EXISTING FIRE STATIONS BATTALION ONE STATION 1 234 Castleberry Industrial Drive 2.41 acres 2007 5 firefighters (min) 24-hours Four stalls. Houses the Office of the First Battalion, Engine 1, Truck 1 and Med 1. STATION 2 4055 Carolene Way 3.04 acres 2007 3 firefighters (min) 24-hours Four stalls. Houses Engine 2, Haz-Mat 2, the Hazardous Materials Decontamination Unit and Med 2. Home of the Forsyth County Fire Department Hazardous Materials Unit STATION 4 3910 Evans Road 3.32 acres 2012 3 firefighters (min) 24-hours Two stalls. Houses Engine 3, Light/Air 4 and Med 4. STATION 6 3190 Caney Road 2.92 acres 2017 3 firefighters (min) 24-hours Four stalls. Houses Engine 6 and Brush Truck 6. Construction of the new station was funded by a combination of SPLOST VI funds and Impact Fees. 14

Forsyth County has 13 fire stations strategically located for effective coverage across the county. While each station has a designated service area, they fre- quently respond together on large-scale incidents requiring response by multiple units and also back one another up when a company is unavailable to respond. STATION 15 STATION 14 STATION 10 3680 Old Atlanta Road 1.5 acres 1999 3 firefighters (min) 24-hours Two stalls. Houses Engine 10 and Med 10. Station expected to last through 2020 800 McFarland Parkway 1 acre 1994 5 firefighters (min) 24-hours Two stalls. Houses Engine 14 and Truck 14. Station expected to last through 2019 1525 Buford Highway 1 acre 1999 3 firefighters (min) 24-hours Two stalls. Houses Engine 15, Rescue 15 and the Dive and Swift Water Rescue Units’ equipment Battalion One Home of the Forsyth County Fire Service Area Fire Department Dive and Swift Water Units Station expected to last through 2018 15

EXISTING FIRE STATIONS BATTALION TWO STATION 3 6495 Wallace Tatum Road 3 acres 2013 3 firefighters (min) 24-hours Two stalls. Houses Engine 3, Brush Truck 3. STATION 5 2720 Holtzclaw Road 2 acres 2005 3 firefighters (min) 24-hours Two stalls. Houses Engine 5, Tanker 5 and Brush Truck 5. Home of the Forsyth County Fire Department Wildland/Urban Interface Unit. 1.25 acres are owned by Forsyth County and 0.75 acres is leased from the Forsyth County Board of Education. STATION 7 6320 Dahlonega Highway 3 acres 2011 3 firefighters (min) 24-hours Two stalls. Houses Engine 7 and Tanker 7. 16

STATION 8 6015 Keith Bridge Road 3 acres 2017 3 firefighters (min) 24-hours Four stalls. Houses Engine 8 and Tanker 8 Construction of the new station was funded by a combination of SPLOST VI funds and Impact Fees; constructed adjacent to former station, which was razed in 2016. STATION 9 7385 Browns Bridge Road 1 acre 1989 3 firefighters (min) 24-hours Two stalls. Houses Engine 9 and Med 9 Current station not designed for 24-hour occupancy; expected to last through 2018. STATION 12 3530 Settingdown Road 3 acres 2006 3 firefighters (min) 24-hours Battalion Two Four stalls. Houses the Office of the Fire Service Area Second Battalion, Engine 12, Rescue 12, Technical Rescue Vehicle and Med 12. Home of the Forsyth County Fire Department Technical Rescue Unit. Station is part of the Public Safety Complex. 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 • Located adjacent to the Forsyth County Fire Department Headquarters • Constructed in the mid-1990s • Services all Fire Department apparatus and vehicles • Includes a pump testing facility, three parts rooms, one light duty lift and six heavy truck lifts 18

TRAINING FACILITY • Scheduled replacement • Located adjacent to the Forsyth County to be funded by Fire Department Headquarters SPLOST VIII • Constructed in phases since the mid-1990s • Utilized for a variety of fire training programs including fire suppression training, high-angle rescue, rope rescue, search and rescue, confined space rescue and roof simulation FUTURE FIRE STATIONS ADDITIONAL STATIONS REPLACEMENT STATION CONSTRUCTION BY YEAR 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 Battalion Brush Truck Dive Van Light and Air Heavy Vehicle Unit 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 MINI AMBULANCE structural collapse operations as well as accomplishing the urban search and rescue mission of the department. The truck portion of The gas-powered mini-ambulance is specifically designed as a the unit is detachable and used to transport personnel and supplies lightweight vehicle for emergency medical response along the Big into areas requiring off-road capability. This need is common on Creek Greenway and within the Fowler Park complex. construction sites 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 The smaller, highly maneuverable wildland ATV assists brush trucks in emergency medical response. They are rugged tools designed for the fighting wildland fires. The ATV’s firefighting capabilities can be replaced demanding rigors of public safety and require operators who are specially with a medical response skid unit, enabling it to perform emergency trained for this unit’s mission. medical 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 Hazardous Engine Ladder Truck Materials Truck 21

Citizens’ Fire Academy The annual 10-week long program held for adult residents interested in learning more about what career firefighters do was held March through May. Participants learned about the firefighter profession and its multiple divisions, types of training received and the equipment used – some of which they were able to operate first-hand. Fire Department’s First Career Firefighters Reach 20-Year Anniversary March 23, 2018 marked the 20-year anniversary of the hiring of Forsyth County’s first full-time, career firefighters, a group whose nickname was the “Dirty Thirty.” Prior to 1998, the county had been served by a volunteer fire department. Of the original 30 firefighters hired, many re- main with the department and have taken on various leadership ranks within the organization playing a role in the department’s growth. 2018 1998 Junior Fire Academy: Seventh- and Eighth-Graders Learn the Ins and Outs of Firefighting For the last eight 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 for one week 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. 22

Department Recognizes and Promotes Personnel; Welcomes New Firefighters In a ceremony held March 29, the Forsyth County Fire Department individuals whose lives they saved. Also, three citizens were recognized presented awards, promoted four personnel and swore in four new with Citizen Life Saved awards for their decisive actions that contributed to firefighters. Family, friends and Fire Department staff attended the saving of a young drowning victim in the summer of 2017. In the promo- the ceremony held at the Central Park Recreation Center. Four Unit tional portion of the event, four members of the department were formally Citation awards and four Life Saved awards were presented to Fire promoted to new positions. In the swearing-in portion of the ceremony, four Department personnel in recognition of outstanding actions. Some probationary firefighters officially became Forsyth County firefighters of the Life Saved awards were presented to the firefighters by the 23

Safety Town: A Week of Fun for the The Forsyth County Fire Department participated in Safety Town County’s Youngest Residents summer camps, hosted by Forsyth County Parks & Recreation to demonstrate important safety tips to 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. 2016 Fire Department Annual Report Receives Award Recognition The National Association of County Information Of- ficers (NACIO) presented the 2016 Forsyth County Fire Department Annual Report with a Meritorious Award. This publication and other Forsyth County Fire Department annual reports can be viewed online at forsythco.com. 24

Grant Received for Rapid Rescuer Personal Flotation Devices and Rescue Bags A Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation grant in the amount of $15,561 was awarded to the department to purchase 75 rapid rescuer personal flotation devices and 45 standard rescue bags for the department. The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners approved receipt of the award at their August 21 work session. Homeland Security Grant Received for Additional Staffing A Department of Homeland Security/ FEMA grant was awarded to help fund the staffing of 12 new firefighters who will be stationed at the new Fire Station 11 on Pittman Road near Bethelview Road that is scheduled to open in 2020. The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant was awarded in the amount of $1,652,080, with the county providing a required cash match contribution of $1,026,968. The grant will provide funding for 2019, 2020 and 2021 that was not otherwise fully funded in the fire fund’s operation budget. Forsyth County is one of just 371 fire departments nationwide that have been awarded this grant to date. According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are nearly 30,000 fire departments in the United States. 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 20 for the Trunk or Treat event at 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. 25

Chief Danny Bowman Retires Following a 50-year career in the fire service, Danny Bowman retired from his position as fire chief on October 16. He began his service with the Forsyth County Fire Department in 2001 as division chief and in 2002 was given the additional assignment of director of emergency management. In 2003, Bowman was promoted to fire chief/director of emergency management and held the position for 15 years. Prior to joining Forsyth County, he began his fire services career with the Atlanta Fire Department in 1968 before transferring to the Fulton County Fire Department in 1977. Bowman served as president of the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs in 1992, was named Georgia’s Fire Chief of the Year in 2010, appointed by Governor Nathan Deal in 2011 to the Board of Public Safety and received the Governor’s Public Safety Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Fire Service profession in 2013. Annual Toy Collection Impacts Local Children Over 5,800 toys were collected during the holiday Eighth Annual Fire Safety Poster Contest season for local children in need during the Fire Department’s annual Aerial’s House toy collection. The Forsyth County Fire Department invited all local third Donations of these toys, plus cash and gift cards, grade students to participate in the eighth Fire Safety Poster helped make Christmas possible for more than 2,000 Contest. Students were given the opportunity to local children who may otherwise have not received display their creativity and artistic talents while any gifts. Donations from the community were promoting a commitment to fire safety. The collected at all fire stations, the Fire Department three winners enjoyed a pizza party with Headquarters as well as county libraries and the their class and local firefighters. The three County Administration Building. winners and three runners-up received the honor of having their artwork displayed in county buildings and received a certificate of accomplishment from the Forsyth County Fire Department. 26

Fire Department Performs Scheduled Car Seat Checkups for Residents The Forsyth County Fire Department partnered with Safe Kids Forsyth during Child Passenger Safety Week (September 23-29) to educate citizens on child passenger seat safety and installation techniques. The department offers scheduled child safety seat inspections to Forsyth County residents that also include training for caregivers on proper car seat installation. Ghost Out Allows Teens Chance to Experience Consequences of Risky Decisions On March 24, the Forsyth County Fire Department joined the Sheriff’s Office, 911 Center, Central EMS and other public safety agencies for the annual Ghost Out event hosted at the City of Cumming Fairgrounds. The life-like program provides a dramatized crash scene that involves actors portraying teens making bad driving decisions. 27

RESPONSES 2.57% Fires BY INCIDENT TYPE IN 2018 .80% Brush Fires | .94% Structure Fires .49% Vehicle Fires | .34% Miscellaneous Fires 5.91% Motor Vehicle Accidents 52.34% 1A0la.r1m5s% Medical 10.15% Alarms 11.27% 7.27% Fire Alarms Canceled .75% Carbon Monoxide 1.06% Gas Leak 17.76% 1.07% Investigation of Smoke Miscellaneous Calls INCIDENT HOT SPOT ANALYSIS The map to the left shows the fire incident response density from January 1 - December 31, 2018. Lowest density Highest density In 2018, the Fire Department responded to 14,441 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

2,047 1,316 712 1,466 863 1,424 442 791 651 1,110 1,039 1,066 1,364 4:31 5:44 6:07 5:53 5:06 4:57 4:57 6:08 4:47 4:44 4:55 5:10 5:21 The Forsyth County Fire Department’s 2018 average response time for on-scene arrival was five minutes 16 seconds, down from five minutes and 18 seconds in 2017. Fire station response times vary as a result of travel distances and other factors. 29

Historical Overview International Association GoldtahfeerapgFotaerirgrFsetiotamCrvsiehsoyniletutthfh.nsetCeponeuuarbntlfitiiosryneh, ’ess Norris Bennett is named Forsyth County’s second chief. 1972 1973 1983 1990 PFororsteycthtioCnouCnotmy mFiirtetee is created. First tvroaluinnintegesrefsirseifoignhftoerrs is called. Volunteer fire department is incorporated and led by John C. “Jake” Moore. 30

Fire History Museum This page is dedicated to retired Fire Chief Danny D. Bowman. It is due to Chief Bowman’s love and dedication to the department’s history that this museum and its artifacts have survived and been made available for the current and future generations to appreciate. The Fire History Museum is located inside of the Fire Department’s Headquarters in the Public Safety Complex. Visiting the museum is available upon a request to the Fire Department Headquarters. 1998 2003 2006 2007 2009 2013 2015 2019 CffFiuorolsrlu-stntyi3tmty0heh,ires F1mraeni2orndevtaeFtDhsieeFreapiondarStsqrottyuamtiattherisotnenctrusr- Idrneechpeiasirvt1ems0etanhtGy,oeDvaaernrannsoyrcD’sh.iPBeuofbwolfimc an career County’s Public Safety Award for “contribution firefighters. Safety Complex. to profession.” Disannanmy eDd. BFoowrsmytahn FierFnexiorsciretpetsoDehnhdeesispsfeait1srrost0ritm,ny0,te0aitnm0htee OInfsfiucreanncoetiSfieersvices Insurance Services Barry Head is named County’s third chief. single year. Forsyth County it Office notifies Forsyth County’s as received a fire Forsyth County it fourth and current insurance reclas- has received a fire chief. sification from 6/9 insurance itrneosd5uu,rcartenioscnuesltpiirnnegmfiirnieums. reclassification from 5 to 3, result- ing in reductions in fire insurance premiums. 31

Symbolic elements of The Patch The American flag The black field The Maltese Cross in the upper left in the lower half of incorporates the corner represents the patch represents tools and symbols the patriotism and mourning and of the modern the pride of Forsyth remembering the Forsyth County Fire County firefighters loss of fellow public Department and the in being dedicated safety professionals. services provided. public servants. The department has experienced three line-of-duty deaths since its inception. Photo: Courtesy of Ben Hendron Photography Forsyth County Fire Department Annual Report 3520 Settingdown Road • Cumming, Georgia 30028 • forsythco.com • (770) 781-2120 • (770) 781-2194 fax Now in its 14th year, the Forsyth County Fire Department Annual Report is prepared jointly by the Forsyth County Fire Department and Forsyth County Department of Communications. For news and up-to-date information about Forsyth County, including the Forsyth County Fire Department, follow us on social media: / forsythcounty @forsythcountyga @ForsythCoGov TVForsyth.com government