Volunteer Chief Called on to Give Presentation

August 22, 2002

As September brought memories of 9/11 and the terrorist attacks it also helped the community remember the role of the fire department in their service to the community.  On Thursday, August 22^nd Volunteer Chief; Joe Combs gave an outstanding presentation about the history, activities, and duties/responsibilities of volunteers, as well as the training, and the volunteer contribution to Glynn County.  By the end of the program, there were members of the St. Simons Optimist Club who wanted to contribute money and further honor firefighters.  In fact, the club started a proposal to recognize not only volunteer firefighters but the paid firefighters as well each month.

In Comb’s talk, he gave an introduction about how he became involved as a volunteer and how this past year, Chief Carl Johnson appointed him to the position of Volunteer Chief over both volunteer divisions of the Glynn County Fire Department.  Many of the Optimists did not realize that this year was the 50^th anniversary of not only the Glynn County Fire Department but also the St. Simons Volunteers.  That first department consisted of 3 career personnel and the balance was made up of volunteers.  It was in 1964 that the mainland’s Ballard Fire Department was formed.  There are now approximately 60 volunteers on the role countywide who participate in at least 60 percent of all training/business meetings and incidents annually.

Members of the Optimist Club began to respect that it is the dedication and the ability to put the needs of others before those of you that makes an organization such as the Glynn County Firefighters successful.  Combs said, “While being a firefighter has its risks, it can be and is an extremely rewarding and gratifying service that has the ability to promote a sense of team and comradely that cannot be achieved elsewhere.”

In his talk, Combs did not fail to mention the very special group of volunteers within the department that provide water, refreshments and other rehabilitation services for firefighters and emergency personnel when on emergency calls.  “This group, though they may not even be in the thick of the fire, is the most valuable group with coolers stocked with ice water and sport drinks to assist in making sure everyone stays healthy on the scene.”  They often arrive shortly after the dispatch is made to the incident.

Of interest to the many taxpayers in the room was the information delivered about the savings, which the citizens of Glynn County enjoy because of the skilled and proficient volunteers.  “Because of Glynn County’s volunteer firefighters, Glynn County enjoys a reduction in necessary career personnel which saves over $600,000.00 a year in base salaries alone per active volunteer,” Combs said.  This does not include any savings from a lower ISO rating.

Of special interest was the mention of the new departmental website at, “glynncountyfiredept.org” Very few members of the Optimist Club knew of the approximately 130 page website which has been receiving much attention.  Combs did not fail to encourage potential volunteers to attend meetings on Tuesday’s at 7:30 p.m. at one of the Glynn County’s Fire Stations.