Decatur County Fire and Rescue
Chief Charlie McCann
Decatur County Fire & Rescue
Non-emergency Phone 229-248-3011, Fax 248-2113
Emergency – 9-1-1 (Calling this number also dispatches calls to all Decatur County Volunteer Fire Departments)
County’s Main station is located at 404 Fourth Ramp Industrial Park Boulevard at the County Industrial Park
BURN PERMIT INFORMATION
To obtain burn permits, Decatur County residents should call the Georgia Forestry Commission Office hotline at 1-877-652-2876. Citizens living inside the Bainbridge City limits should call 229-248-2032 for burn permit information.
To report arson or arsonists, call the local Sheriff’s Office at 229-248-3044, Bainbridge Public Safety (if inside the City limits of Bainbridge) at 229-248-2032 or the Georgia Forestry Commission office at 229-248-2616 or 1-800-GA-TREES. Fire weather web site.
Decatur County Fire and Rescue was established in 1962 on what is now the Decatur County Industrial Park located on US HWY 27 north of Bainbridge. DCFR now employs 15 full-time Firefighters plus administrative staff. We provide protective services to the County’s 623 square miles and approximately 30,000 citizens. This is supplemented by 9 Volunteer Fire Stations/Districts spread throughout the County with over 100 Volunteer members who gladly give their time and effort, when able, to the County. These stations include Brinson, Attapulgas, Fowlstown, Recovery, 97 South, Faceville, Mt. Pleasant, Kindrick, and Blackjack.
DCFR also works in conjunction with the GMAG (Georgia Mutual Aid Group), where we respond to emergency situations in other counties when requested.
Our Firefighters (Full-time and Volunteer), in order to maintain State Certifications; constantly participate in various training programs. These programs not only include structural fire suppression tactics, but Medical/First Responder as well. We also train many different forms of Search and Rescue techniques, including: water and wilderness search and recovery, high angle rescue, vehicle and aircraft extrication to name a few. We also have Firefighters who have received specialized training in Hazardous Materials, Emergency Medical Technicians, Subterranean Search & Rescue and Rescue Specialists. This training along with equipment purchased and maintained by the County, manpower and fire response capabilities strives to insure and improve Decatur County’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating. This rating helps determines a property owner’s insurance premium.
Another goal of Decatur County Fire and Rescue is to educate and promote fire safety. Every year DCFR Firefighters participates in National Fire Prevention Week by going to schools and teaching children about the dangers of fire how to plan and react if threatened by fires in their homes. Also, we gladly invite students and classes to the Firehouse for classes, to give the children tours of the station and to let them see how we live and work while on duty.
DCFR is also active in several charitable organizations. Annually we participate in the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation ‘Boot Drive’ and Relay for Life. Over the years Decatur County Firefighters have raised thousands of dollars, collectively, for these worthy organizations. We have also begun, in co-ordination with Georgia Industries for the Blind Bainbridge Facility, a nonperishable food and toy drive for Christmas. Each year these items are donated and gathered from the gracious citizens of Decatur County and distributed to needy families in our community.
Also, DCFR no longer assigns ‘burn permit’ numbers. If you wish to burn yard debris or other legal items you must contact Georgia Department of Forestry. Their permit hotline number is 1-877-652-2876.