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Message from Fire Chief
Fire Chief Jon Canada
Gainesville Fire Department operates four fire stations equipped with a total of ten fire trucks (five engines, two aerials, one rescue, and two squads). There are currently 74 employees working on three shifts (24 hours on, 48 hours off) and eight administrative staff members. The FY07 budget for the Fire Department is $4.8 million dollars. Our response area is 36 square miles with approximately 26,000 citizens during evening hours and as many as 125,000 citizens during working hours. In 2006, the Fire Department responded to 6,250 emergency calls.
In addition to firefighting, personnel are trained in the areas of emergency medical, high angle rescue, & confined space/trench rescue. And, in response to our ever changing society, we also train in hazardous material emergency response with Hall County Fire Department. Get Your Free Smoke Detector Today!! Gainesville Fire Department provides free smoke detectors for residences within the city limits of Gainesville. We are able to offer this program free because all costs are covered by the collection of aluminum cans. If you are a homeowner in the City of Gainesville and do not have smoke detectors in your home, please give us a call. All we need is your name, address, and phone number. A member of GFD will contact you to schedule an appointment for installation and we’ll cover the replacement of batteries on an annual basis! Please let us help you and your family stay safe by calling 770-534-3612. Fire Safety House The Fire Safety House is a partnership between the Gainesville Fire Department, Gainesville City Schools, Hall County Fire Department, and Gainesville/Hall County Safe Kids Coalition. It is equipped with a kitchen, living room, bedroom, and control room, and is designed specifically for interactive fire safety and severe weather safety for children ages 4 thru 9. To request the Fire Safety House for your school or organization’s event, please call 770-534-3612. After the Fire The emotional trauma of a fire is something you will never forget. In the days, weeks and months to come, you’ll face the difficult task of recovering as much of your loss as possible; cleaning, repairing and rebuilding your property; and attempting to get your life back to normal as soon as possible. Please use the below link to access information we hope will be helpful in guiding you through this difficult period. http://www.usfa.fema.gov/safety/atf/ Hydrant Testing
During both phases the area around the hydrant is inspected to be sure it is clear of obstructions (debris, shrubbery, fences) which may prevent or hinder access should the hydrant be needed. As a matter of fact, we need an area of at least 36” around the hydrant for visibility and easy operation. Repair needs are also noted during these visits and submitted to the responsible authority for immediate attention. In addition to being a requirement of ISO (Insurance Services Office), hydrant testing provides many benefits for fire personnel. We gain firsthand knowledge of where hydrants are located, assure they are visible from the road, operational as a “first water” source, and are able to confirm they are maintained on a regular basis. The testing protocol followed by Gainesville Fire Department personnel is based upon the standards of NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) and the American Water Works Association Manual M-17. Should you notice fire personnel checking hydrants in your area, be assured our intentions are not to waste water or destroy property; we are working to insure your safety. Should you notice a hydrant in need of repair, please call the Public Utilities Department Distribution and Collection Division: 770-535-6880. Fire Hose Gainesville Fire Department apparatus is equipped with hose of various sizes and each size is designed for a specific purpose in fire suppression activities:
In order to assure the safety of fire personnel, secure the protection of personal and commercial property, and to maintain industry standards, it is essential that all fire hoses are tested and inspected annually to ensure their ability to perform "under pressure." Testing is performed by department personnel, normally occurs the same time each year and the department is required to maintain all records for the service life of the hose. A charged fire hose can be very dangerous so please be cautious should you find yourself in an area where fire hose is in use. And, please do not drive over fire hose. Not only is it against state law (§40-6-248), but doing so may cause damage to your vehicle and the hose which could result in injuries or worse to firefighters who are inside a burning building and depending on the water supply. Aerial Apparatus
Tower 21 was purchased in 2001. It is unique in that not only does it serve in the capacity of an aerial, it carries water and can operate in the same manner as an engine. Tower 21 has a tank capacity of 250 gallons and flows up to 2000 GPM’s In the fire service, this type of equipment is commonly referred to as a “quint.” The top ladder & platform on Tower 21 extends 95 feet, is equipped with a nozzle for suppression, and can rotate 360°. Our aerial apparatus must be tested by an outside agency and certified each year. Operational testing, load testing, hydraulic & waterway systems, stability, and structural integrity are just a few of the areas tested and certified annually. Safety is number one and Gainesville Fire Department works hard to assure that we not only have the most up to date equipment, but the safest. Fire Engines Each of our front line fire engines (aka pumpers) carries 500 gallons of water and has the ability to pump 1500 GPM’s. Our reserve unit carries 1000 gallons of water and has the ability to pump 1250 GPM’s. Like aerial apparatus, pumpers must also be tested annually. Annual pump service testing, which is conducted by our personnel using industry standards, assures that all components of the engine and pump are operating properly and that each has the ability to provide the largest volume of water necessary for suppression activities. Preplan Program
When firefighters complete the onsite visit, they return to the station and document their findings (forms & sketches). If you would like to schedule a preplan for your facility, please call 770-534-3612. |
The Gainesville Fire Department was established in 1876 as “The Gainesville Hook and Ladder Company”. Since that time, the men and women of this department have provided a service to the community that is second to none. I am very proud and honored to serve as the Fire Chief of such a great community and am excited about the department’s future. We look forward to enhancing our ability to deliver the best service possible to our customers in both emergency and non-emergency situations.
Gainesville Fire Department is one of only nine ISO Class II fire departments in the State of Georgia. This rating allows our residents and businesses to receive lower insurance premiums and superior service. To maintain the Class II, the department routinely conducts training classes and exercises. Members are required to attend a minimum of 240 hours of training per year. This specialized training also benefits our growing industrial community.
Twice annually Gainesville Fire Department conducts inspections to assure the hydrants we depend upon for suppression activities are operational, provide adequate water flow, and maintain adequate system pressure. Phase I testing occurs in the spring, and in addition to the general maintenance inspection, includes a full flow test (which sometimes requires the flowing of large amounts of water), and the documentation of static and residual pressure readings. Phase II testing occurs in the fall, and in addition to a general maintenance inspection, includes the documentation of static pressure readings only.
The department owns two pieces of aerial apparatus. Ladder 15 was purchased in 1995 to replace a 1957 American LaFrance ladder truck that had been in service for 38 years. It requires two drivers to operate. The one in back (tiller man) steers the rear wheels in the opposite direction of the front to allow for easy navigation of city streets. The top ladder extends 100 feet and is equipped with a nozzle for suppression. It can also rotate 360°.
Gainesville Fire Department personnel schedule visits with local businesses throughout the year to proactively prepare for emergency situations. These visits are not inspections but instead are an opportunity for firefighters to gain insight about a structure’s age, construction type, and physical layout. In addition, firefighters are able to become familiar with suppression features, plan ahead for apparatus placement, locate available water sources, and identify hazards (limited access areas, open stairways, equipment on roof, chemical storage areas, etc.) which may threaten the lives of civilians and firefighters during an emergency. |
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