GEORGIA -  Personnel from fire departments across the state along with those from the Glynn County Fire Department returned home Sunday after completing a week long conference of the Georgia Fire Chiefs Association and the Georgia State Firefighters Association.

This year’s conference, located in Macon, Georgia was hosted by the Macon-Bibb Fire Department, was undoubtedly one of the most attended conferences in recent years.

During the conference personnel attended courses on firefighter survival, hazardous materials responses, legislative issues and other topics relating to the fire service.

The conference started on Wednesday with a class on radioactive hazardous materials responses and officially opened on Thursday with a memorial service.  Some of the guest speakers for the conference included; Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor - Casey Cagle, Georgia’s Attorney General - Thurbert Baker, and Georgia’s Fire & Insurance Commissioner - John Oxendine, along with many other State and local delegates.  The conference concluded Saturday night with an awards and recognition banquet.

Throughout the conference vendors displayed their products, showcasing some of the most advanced firefighter gear and technology, along with services specifically tailored for the fire service.   

The conference, in addition to the training and education, provided an opportunity for Georgia fire chiefs and firefighters to network and exchange ideas to promote the growth of the fire service in Georgia.  Personnel attending the conference were able to earn up to fifteen and one-half hours of state approved training credits toward their yearly requirement.  This, along with the networking opportunities, makes this one of the best career advancement opportunities available, for the fire service, in the state of Georgia.