Welcome to the P.C.F.D. news section. Here you will find current information about the services we have been providing to the community as well as events within the department. If you need further information about an incident we have responded to or are a member of the news media, please contact the Peachtree City Public Information Officer (PIO) or Fire Chief's office for an official statement. No portion of the P.C.F.D. news section may be reproduced without consent of the P.C.F.D. or P.C.V.F.A.

Maxine Barbour joined the City on November 14, 1990, as Purchasing Secretary.  In 1992, she transferred to the Fire Department, where she served as Secretary.  She later became Administrative Secretary and was promoted in October, 2000, to her current position of Office Administrator.  Maxine has been named Fire Department Employee of the Month twice for her devoted service to the department.  She is known for her support of community and City events, as well.  She has served as a local March of Dimes Coordinator, actively participated in the Fire Department’s public education activities through the Clown Program, and also served extensively on the City’s Employee Social Activities Committee.  For her dedication to the Fire Department, the City and the community, we are proud to recognize Maxine Barbour upon her fifteenth anniversary with the City of Peachtree City.

Seven members of the Peachtree City Fire Department attended the Volunteer and Combination Officer’s Section (VCOS) symposium in Clearwater Beach, Florida, 9-13 November. 

Fire Chief Sonny Lohr, Assistant Chief Ed Eiswerth and Volunteer Association President Robin Lasky led the group to a conference focusing on multiple facets and the evolution of leadership, integrity and management specifically related to chief and fire officer level control of a ‘mixed’ or combination department, such as we have in Peachtree City. 

The four day symposium, primarily financed by funds committed by the Volunteer Association and funds from Peachtree City, was universally praised by the attendees as “invaluable” – not to mention superb hospitality organized by the sponsoring International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the always legendary Floridian west coast weather!  Others who attended were FF/Paramedic Joe O’Conor, FF/Paramedic Jay Woodie, Shift Commander/EMT Jeff Koldoff, and FF Les Dyer.   

Chief Lohr stated that, “in conjunction with support from the Mayor and City Council, we attempt to insure attendance by career and volunteer members to workshops and conferences judged worthy and educational to and for our department.”

Every year it has been proven that firefighters die due to the stressors of the job and sudden cardiac arrest. Over 50% of all firefighter deaths are related to these issues. To raise awareness of these hidden dangers that plague the fire service, Georgia firefighters have sponsored and participated in the annual “Fit to Fight” run. This year marks the runs fourth annual relay.

The “Fit to Fight” relay is a long distance trek, which starts at the Georgia State Capital at 7a.m. and finishes at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in Forsyth, Georgia. The run was held on September 9^th and went thru the early morning hours of September 10^th.  With teams running through the night it took approximately 13 to 14 hours for the teams to complete the 75 mile trek. Among the runners that participated were four Peachtree City Fire Rescue firefighters.

The relay is open to all firefighters whether they are extreme fitness buffs or if they can just run a mile or two. The run was organized so that teamwork was the major emphasis, relying on one other just as they do in their day to day lives at the firehouse. Each member wore his or her turnout gear (firefighting gear) to run in and then one member of the team wore a self-contained breathing apparatus (S.C.B.A), which is similar to a S.C.U.B.A. tank. The other team member carried the American Flag.

To accumulate points for their Department each team had to start together and finish together, whether the team ran one mile at a time or ten, they had to do it together. As long as they worked as a team, the team would accrue points. The team that had the most points at the end of the race received the highly coveted “Fit to Fight” trophy. This year the honor went to the City of Dalton Fire Department.

The main goal of this relay is to raise awareness of the leading cause death among firefighters, which is Heart Disease. The leaders of the fire service are working diligently to raise awareness within the fire service regarding health and wellness. Being in good health for a firefighter is not an option, the firefighters life and the lives of their crews depend on the health and physical fitness of that firefighter. Not having a workout program, personal or Departmental wide, coupled with an unhealthy diet is more dangerous than any danger that a firefighter would encounter on the fire ground.

Peachtree City Fire Rescue is honored to have four of its firefighter’s compete in the race. These firefighters are; Sergeant Clint Murphy, Firefighter / EMT-I Jodi Blaess, Firefighter Kevin Forkin, and Firefighter Jeff Pakulski.       

Congratulations for taking the Challenge to be “Fit for Life” !

By:
Peki Prince
Operations Officer
Peachtree City Fire Rescue
Peachtree City, Georgia

Peachtree City Fire/Rescue “firefighter recruit” class started on 13 September 2005.  This year’s class has 10 new volunteer firefighters and 4 explorers who will turn 18 years of age within the first month of class.  Three other volunteer firefighters joined the Department in the past two months.  One was a returning volunteer who has moved back to Peachtree City, another new volunteer is already certified as a firefighter, and the third volunteer firefighter decided to attend four weeks of training at Georgia Public Safety Training Center to achieve his NPQ Firefighter I certification.  

Peachtree City requires all firefighters (volunteer or career) to attain at least National Professional Qualifications (NPQ) Firefighter I, NPQ Haz-Mat Awareness, and pass the Georgia State Physical Agility Test.  Firefighters are encouraged to attain NPQ Firefighter II, all career firefighters have done this with 90% of the volunteers also completed. 

The recruit class will last about 4-5 months with training one night a week with half a day on Saturdays.  It consists of academic classes as well as practical classes and exercises.  At the end of the class each recruit must take a written test and practical test administrated by the State of Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training evaluators. 

This year’s recruit class is a diverse group.  There are students, sales persons, businessmen, homemakers, and EMT's, to name a few.  About one third of the class lives in Peachtree City.  The rest are from all over the metro area, most coming from Coweta County.  

This will be the biggest class the department has ever taught.  All the instructors are looking forward to the challenges of turning civilians into firefighters.

The Department is participating in a boot drive to collect money for the American Red Cross. The money collected will go directly to the relief efforts already underway. Firefighters will be out in force over the Labor Day weekend at area shopping centers to collect donations.

The Peachtree City Fire Department recently took delivery of new NFPA approved station uniforms for all Department members. The uniforms, complete with new P.C.F.D. insignia, will be worn by Firefighters beginning October 1st. The uniforms are constructed of Nomex fire retardant material, similar to the material used in the Firefighters structural firefighting gear. The new uniforms will afford extra protection against burns caused by direct contact with flames.

Fayette County E911 received a report of a residential structure fire just after 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The occupant of the residence advised operators that they saw smoke and flames coming from the garage and subsequently evacuated. PCPD arrived on the scene at 202 Silverwood Way shortly thereafter and reported the garage to the residence was "fully involved". Q83 was the first fire unit on-scene and reported a working structure fire with fire in the attic. Crews quickly performed an initial attack and simultaneous ventilation of the structure in an attempt to limit the spread of the fire. The fire was brought under control with no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Students of Oak Grove Elementary School celebrated the end of another school year last Friday with a little help from their friends at Station 83. The day, traditionally known as "water day", includes games and competitions centered around water. The grand finale and main event was a "wet down" by Quint 83's elevated master stream. The children played for about 20 minutes in a nearby field.
 

Crews from Company 81 responded to assist Fayette Co. Fire & Emergency Services and Fayetteville Fire Department on Friday for a large commercial structure fire. Peachtree City fire dispatch received a call from Fayette Co. requesting a ladder truck and shortly thereafter a request for an engine company. Tower 8, Engine 84 and the Shift Commander responded to the mutual aid request. Upon their arrival, crews assisted with defensive operations and exposure protection at a storage warehouse facility in Tyrone. No injuries were reported.

Company 83 was alerted to a serious accident early Monday morning on Highway 74 South. First arriving units found a two vehicle head-on collision. One patient was found entrapped and another was pronounced dead on the scene. Rescue Air 1 responded and transported the patient who was entrapped to a nearby trauma center. The accident is the third such fatality accident in recent months along that particular stretch of Highway 74. 

Planning for the new piece of fire equipment began several years ago, and involved many hours of research by members of the department.  The new, heavy duty, custom truck is intended to function as both a pumper and ladder.  It will also have EMS and extrication equipment.  It is capable of pumping 1500 gallons of water per minute and carries a sixty-five foot aerial ladder.  The aerial ladder is equipped with its own fire nozzle and water pipe.  The ladder can also be used for rescue and to allow firefighters safe access to roofs of buildings. 

In addition, the new truck carries 500 gallons of water and 40 gallons of foam for use in fighting flammable liquid fires such as gasoline.  The truck also carries aluminum extension ladders ranging in length from ten to thirty-five feet.  The ladders are carried at the rear of the truck for easy access by firefighters at the scene of a fire. Quint 83 will also carry  “Jaws of Life” Extrication equipment.  This will enable the firefighters to gain access and extricate a victim(s) from a car accident.   

The cab has room for a driver, officer and two firefighters in special seats, which also contain their air packs for use in fire/smoke conditions.  All seats are equipped with headsets with earphones and microphones to allow communication with other fire units and fire officers at the scene of the fire.

The truck carries twelve hundred feet of five inch supply hose.  This hose is connected to a fire hydrant and then laid down the street to supply the truck with water.

The truck also carries four “attack” hose lines that are connected to the pump to allow for quick knockdown of fires.  One hose line is located on the front bumper and three additional lines are mounted behind the cab. 

The new truck carries the latest in flashing red LED lights, two sirens and two air horns to warn motorists of its approach.  Large yellow and red reflective stripes are used on the rear of the truck as an added safety feature.

The truck also carries many other pieces of fire and rescue equipment, including a thermal imager for finding victims in thick smoke and a large complement of emergency medical equipment including AED, oxygen, some EMS drugs, backboards, and airway equipment.

Fire department training officers will begin training firefighter (career and volunteer) personnel on the new truck the rest of the month.  The department expects the truck to enter service 1 April.

Fayette County E911 received a call for a structure fire at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. First arriving units found a large gazebo well involved with fire. Company 82 pulled an 1 3/4" hand line and attacked the fire. Crews used fuel buster to augment their extinguishing efforts, as the structure was composed mostly of heavy timber. The fire was controlled within 30 minutes.
 

The fire in the Glenloch Village district of the city was quickly extinguished. It was confined to the attic area. Crews remained on-scene to ventilate the structure and check for hot spots. There were no injuries reported.
 

Sgt. Campbell, the program organizer, states: "the Peachtree City Fire Department “Salvage POD” program is simple.  During a structure fire or other incident where property conservation is an issue, a 5’x8’ by 7 ½’ metal storage pod will be delivered during the salvage and overhaul phase of the incident.  Mobile Storage Depot of Peachtree City (200 Kelly Drive) will deliver the pod 24/7/365 free of charge for up to 72 hours post incident.  After 72 hours the homeowner or insured occupant would have had time to contact their insurance company and make arrangements for more temporary storage needs.  The scope of our customer service is to early on provide a secure, dry, sturdy, area to place personal effects in the first several hours of an incident to give our affected citizens time to gather and cope with their immediate loss.  This program is not  designed to place all of the homeowners property in containers however to provide shelter for our customer’s valuables such as photo albums, home videos, audio, certain electronics, clothing , pictures and other irreplaceable keepsakes found." Sgt. Campbell went on to say, "Performing loss control is a mark toward excellence in service delivery.  It is a “Signature” of professionalism in our craft. We should continually try to add quality and value to our work." The members of the PCFD applaud the effort of Sgt. Campbell and his crew.

The Georgia Firefighters Standards and Training Council (GFSTC) recently adopted new requirements of all certified Fire Department personnel in Georgia. These requirements specify minimum standards that each member must have for certification as well as required training and examinations for recertification. The Council went further to define requirements for both Administrative (non-line) Firefighters and Support (non-structural) Firefighters. According to the GFSTC, Firefighters must complete 24 hours of approved continuing education in addition to passing an annual core competency skills examination and written exam. The core competency skills portion is based on NFPA Firefighter I and can be completed utilizing skills sheets, training drills, or training based scenarios. All members of the PCFD will meet the state requirements in addition to the department required 120 hours of annual training.