Fire department offers essential aid to Towns residents
Community, News April 20, 2020HIAWASSEE, Ga – Fire Chief Harold Copeland took a moment to inform the public that the fire department is available to any essential aid during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Not only is your fire department here for your med calls and fire emergencies, at a time like this during a pandemic, we’re here for your special needs as well,” said Copeland.
Stations are manned Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Copeland also gave out several numbers for citizens to call to reach the fire department if they need assistance. On the weekends and at night, people can call Station One at 706.896.2090 or call Copeland’s cell phone at 706.994.4934.
Copeland monitors the Station One voicemail and will get in touch with anyone who needs assistance. This applies to the gathering of any essentials for those in the community who can’t get out, such as groceries, prescriptions, or any type of aid. The department’s also delivering Meals on Wheels to the public.
“If you’re home right now and you haven’t eaten today, call me. We’ll go through the drive-thru for you,” Copeland expressed. “We’re coming that’s what we do, that’s what everybody in this room does.”
The fire department will ask some COVID-19 screening questions in order to follow CDC guidelines. Those who respond to calls for meals, groceries, or medicine will place the goods on porches, carports, or vehicles.
“We’re here for you. The fire department’s here for you. The EMS is here for you. The same way y’all have been here for us over the years as a community whether it’s through your taxes or donations you’ve given,” stated Copeland.
“We want to take care of our citizens anyway we possibly can,” said Sole Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw. “Thank you all for all that you’re doing we appreciate it very much and better days are just around the corner. We’re getting there.”
To find out more about COVID-19 testing at the Towns County Health Department, click here.
Towns County Fire & Rescue Incident Report
Activity Report, News February 29, 2020Towns County Fire & Rescue
Weekly Incident Report
2/19/20 -2/25/20
2/19/20
4 Medical Calls
2 Public Assist
2 Motor Vehicle Accidents
1 Chimney Fire
2/20/20
1 Medical Call
1 Cancelled En Route
3 Fire Alarm
2/21/20
3 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
2/22/20
2 Medical Call
1 Cancelled En Route
1 Controlled Burn
2/23/20
2 Medical Call
1 Assist Other
1 Controlled Burn
2/24/20
4 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
1 Public Assist
2/25/20
6 Medical Calls
1 Landing Zone
Towns County Fire & Rescue Activity Report
Activity Report, News February 21, 2020Towns County Fire & Rescue
Weekly Report
2/12/20 – 2/18/20
2/12/20
3 Medical Calls
2/13/20
4 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
1 False Alarm
2/14/20
6 Medical Calls
2 Landing Zones
2/15/20
5 Medical Call
3 Cancelled En Route
2/16/20
2 Medical Call
2 Landing Zones
2/17/20
3 Medical Calls
2 Assist Other
2/18/20
2 Medical Call
1 Public Assist
1 False Alarm
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Towns County Fire & Rescue Activity Report
Activity Report, News February 15, 2020Towns County Fire & Rescue
Weekly Report
2/5/20 – 2/11/20
2/5/20
3 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
2/6/20
2 Medical Calls
1 Motor Vehicle Accident
2/7/20
7 Medical Calls
1 Motor Vehicle Accident
1 Assist Other
1 False Alarm
2/8/20
7 Public Assist
2 Motor Vehicle Accidents
1 Medical Call
2 Cancelled En Route
1 False Call
2/9/20
4 Cancelled En Route
1 Medical Call
1 Controlled Burn
2/10/20
3 Medical Calls
3 Cancelled En Route
2/11/20
1 Medical Call
1 Public Assist
2 Cancelled En Route
Towns County Fire & Rescue Activity Report
Activity Report, News February 3, 2020Towns County Fire & Rescue
Weekly Report
1/22/20 -1/28/20
1/22/20
1 Medical call
1 Brush Fire
1/23/20
6 Medical Calls
1 False Call
1 Controlled Burn
1/24/20
3 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
1/25/20
1 Medical Call
1/26/20
3 Medical Calls
1/27/20
3 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
1/28/20
4 Medical Calls
1 Motor Vehicle Accident
Devastated victim praises Towns County Fire & Rescue’s response
Featured, News February 2, 2020HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Sunday afternoon’s bright, blue sky and unseasonably warm weather seemed to contradict the tragedy that occurred just 15-hours before in the peaceful village of Enchanted Valley RV Resort. FYN arrived at the park to take photographs of the aftermath of a structure fire that shamelessly destroyed three homes during the midnight hour of Feb. 2, unprepared to come face-to-face with the fire’s heartbroken victim.
Click to read: Overnight fire destroys multiple homes in RV park
Mike Wages, an older gentleman who relocated to Towns County from the Gwinnett-area in 2002, sat alone in his pick-up truck, staring at what remained of his full-time home as he awaited the arrival of the American Red Cross. As Wages fought tears from his kind, blue eyes, the displaced homeowner offered details on the dreadful night before.
“I was asleep, had fallen asleep watching Westerns, and woke up around midnight to the smell of smoke. I was having trouble breathing…I was able to get out, but I lost everything I had. I have never felt such pain…This is all I have,” Wages said, pointing to a small heap of crumpled clothes beside him in the passenger seat.
Wages quickly regained his composure and turned the conversation to the first responders who battled the blaze. “I want the firefighters and paramedics to know how thankful I am. They did a wonderful job. It could have been so much worse.”
Several of Wages’ neighbors sat on a concrete bench in front of the charred structures, despondently gazing at what little remained, and likewise requested that FYN publicly extend their gratitude for Towns County Fire and Rescue’s skilled response. Firefighters arrived shortly after midnight to find the three homes engulfed in flames, quickly acting to extinguish the blaze and preventing wider spread damage to the tightly-quartered mobile homes.
Windy conditions lent to the escalation of the fire, Towns County Fire Chief Harold Copeland told FYN earlier in the day. “The firefighters did a tremendous job,” Copeland said. “They performed a quick knockdown, working the hot spots to avoid rekindling, and the fire was contained.” The fire was ruled accidental.
Wages said that he, fortunately, holds homeowner’s insurance and plans to rebuild.
Feature Image: What remains of Wages’ home.
Towns County Fire & Rescue Activity Report
Activity Report, News January 30, 2020Towns County Fire & Rescue
Weekly Report
1/15/20 -1/21/20
1/15/20
2 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
1 Public Assist
1/16/20
4 Medical Calls
1 Controlled Burn
1 Cancelled En Route
1/17/20
5 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
2 Landing Zones
1/18/20
7 Medical Calls
1 False Fire Alarm
1/19/20
5 Medical Calls
1 False Call
1 Cancelled En Route
1 Landing Zone
1/20/20
2 Cancelled En Route
1 Medical call
1 Elevator call
1False Fire Alarm
1/21/20
2 Medical Calls
1 False Call
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Former fire chief says 24-hour department eventually needed
News January 22, 2020UPDATED
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – David Sellers, a former fire chief with Towns County Fire & Rescue, presented the history of the local fire department this week at the Towns County Courthouse, wrapping up the discussion with closing words for the public.
“We have full-time firefighters in Young Harris and Hiawassee, and they’re there for the day, Monday through Friday,” Sellers said. “But then on the weekends and at nighttime, the firefighters have to get up out of their beds, get their clothes on, get in their car, get to the fire station, and get a truck out and hope that some other firefighters are going to show up – which they will. But what we need eventually is full-time firefighters, 24-hours every single day so that there’s somebody there to bring that truck out whether it’s rescue or fire. So let’s hope the county can work on that, and one day we’ll have that soon.”
Sellers served as a firefighter for the City of Young Harris in the 1980s, which later incorporated the City of Hiawassee through a mutual aid contract. Towns County Fire Department was formed in 1985 with Sellers appointed as chief by former Commissioner Truman Barrett. Present-day Fire Chief Harold Copeland initially served as Sellers’ assistant chief. Copeland attended the courthouse presentation.
Click to view Towns County Fire & Rescue Activity Reports
Towns County Fire and Rescue consists of six fire stations strategically located throughout the jurisdiction. Volunteer firefighters are primarily assigned to the station located nearest their residence, paid-on-call in the event of emergencies. Volunteer firefighters are registered with the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council and must complete a live-fire training requirement to become Registered Volunteer Firefighters.
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Towns County Fire & Rescue Activity Report
Activity Report, News January 18, 2020Towns County Fire & Rescue
Weekly Report
1/8/20 – 1/14/20
1/8/20
1 Medical Call
1 Landing Zone
1 Structure Fire
1/9/20
7 Medical Calls
2 Public Assist
1 Cancelled En Route
1 Vehicle Fire
1 Controlled Burn
1/10/20
4 Medical Calls
1 Landing Zone
1/11/20
7 Medical Calls
11 Assist Other
1 False Alarm
1/12/20
1 Assist Other
1 Cancelled En Route
1/13/19
8 Medical Calls
1/14/20
1 Medical Call
1 Assist Other
1 Cancelled En Route
Towns County Fire & Rescue Incident Report
Activity Report, News January 10, 2020Towns County Fire & Rescue
Weekly Report
1/1/20 – 1/7/20
1/1/20
2 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
1/2/20
2 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
1 Assist Other
1/3/20
4 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
1/4/20
3 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
1 False Alarm
1/5/20
4 Medical Calls
1 Landing Zone
2 Cancelled En Route
1/6/19
4 Medical Calls
2 Landing Zone
1 Assist Other
1/7/20
1 Medical Call
1 Landing Zone
1 Public Assist
Towns County Fire & Rescue Incident report
Activity Report, News December 27, 2019Towns County Fire Rescue
Weekly Report
12/18/19-12/24/19
12/18/19
2 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
12/19/19
2 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
1 False Call
12/20/19
3 Medical Calls
2 Landing Zones
12/21/19
4 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
1 Landing Zone
12/22/19
No Calls
12/23/19
4 Medical Calls
1 Motor Vehicle Accident
1 Cancelled En Route
1 Landing Zone
12/24/19
5 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
1 False Call
Towns County Fire & Rescue Incident Report
Activity Report, News December 23, 2019Towns County Fire Rescue
Weekly Report
12/11/19 – 12/17/19
12/11/19
3 Medical Calls
1 Public Assist
1 Landing Zone
1 Cancelled En Route
12/12/19
3 Medical Calls
12/13/19
4 Medical Calls
2 Smoke Investigations
12/14/19
4 Medical Calls
3 Landing Zones
1 Smoke Investigation
12/15/19
7 Medical Calls
1 Landing Zone
1 Cancelled En Route
1 Assist Other
12/16/19
6 Medical Calls
1 Structure Fire
12/17/19
3 Medical Calls
1 Fire Alarm
1 Electrical Fire
Towns County Fire and Rescue Incident Report
Activity Report, News December 17, 2019Towns County Fire & Rescue
Weekly Report
12/4/19 -12/10/19
12/4/19
5 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
12/5/19
6 Medical Calls
3 Cancelled En Route
1 False Alarm
12/6/19
7 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
12/7/19
5 Medical Calls
12/8/19
2 Medical Calls
12/9/19
2 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
12/10/19
1 Medical Call
2 Cancelled En Route
Towns County Fire & Rescue Incident Report
Activity Report, News December 9, 2019Towns County Fire & Rescue
Weekly Report
11/27/19 – 12/4/19
11/27/19
4 Medical Calls
1 Cancelled En Route
11/28/19
6 Medical Calls
3 Landing Zones
1 Illegal Burn
11/29/19
4 Medical Calls
2 Landing Zones
11/30/19
5 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
1 Public Assist
12/1/19
3 Cancelled En Route
2 Medical Calls
1 Landing Zone
12/2/19
3 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En route
12/3/19
5 Medical Calls
2 Controlled Burns
Towns County Fire & Rescue Activity Report
Activity Report, News October 12, 2019Towns County Fire Rescue
Weekly Report
10/2/19 -10/8/19
10/2/19
2 Medical Calls
2 Landing Zones
1 Motor Vehicle Accident
1 Gas Leak
10/3/19
3 Medical Calls
1 Assist other
10/4/19
2 Medical Calls
1 Motor Vehicle Accident
1 Landing Zone
1 Controlled Burn
1 Cancelled En Route
10/5/19
2 Medical Calls
1 Landing Zone
1 False Fire Alarm
1 Cancelled En Route
10/6/19
1 Medical Call
2 Cancelled En Route
10/7/19
3 Medical Calls
2 Cancelled En Route
1 Public Assist
10/8/19
1 Medical Call
1 Controlled Burn
Towns County Fire & Rescue Incident Report
Activity Report, News October 25, 2019Towns County Fire Rescue
Weekly Report 10/16/19 -10/22/19
10/16/19 4 Medical Calls 2 Cancelled En Route 1 Motor Vehicle Accident
10/17/19 5 Medical Calls 2 Motor Vehicle Accidents 2 Cancelled En Route 1 Structure Fire 1 Public Assist 1 Landing Zone
10/18/19 3 Medical Calls 3 Assist Other 1 Motor Vehicle Accident 1 Cancelled En Route
10/19/19 1 Structure Fire 2 Medical Calls 3 Cancelled En Route 1 Assist Other
10/20/19 6 Medical Calls 4 Cancelled En Route
10/21/19 4 Medical Calls 3 Cancelled En Route 1 False Fire Alarm 1 Landing Zone
10/22/19 5 Medical Calls 2 Cancelled En Route 1 False Call 1 Landing Zone
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