Glynn County Fire Rescue reports staffing gains, new equipment and SPLOST-funded stations coming in 2026

Glynn County officials said this month that Fire Rescue has increased staffing, added equipment and will open two SPLOST-funded fire stations later in 2026.

County and Fire Rescue leaders described the staffing gains and equipment during an October installment of the Good News Glenn podcast, and outlined community programs including school fire-safety education, a community CPR push and a virtual-reality fire-extinguisher training prop.

Fire Rescue said 25 members are graduating from emergency medical training this week: 10 advanced EMTs and 15 EMTs. Once those graduates obtain licensure, they will begin fire academy training and are expected to start street assignments after academy completion, officials said. A county representative said the agency has filled many vacancies and expects to start recruiting again after this class is assigned.

Chief Vinny (Glynn County Fire Rescue) said the department took delivery of a grant-funded inflatable water-rescue boat that is already in service to support incidents on the county's beaches and waterways. “That boat is now in service,” Chief Vinny said on the podcast. Officials also said a SPLOST-funded ambulance is already in service, and a SPLOST-funded fire truck currently under final inspection in Wisconsin is expected to return to Glynn County in December for service.

Two station projects funded by SPLOST (the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) were described in detail. Station 9, planned at the corner of Chapel Crossing and Highway 17 through a property partnership with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), has completed design and is moving toward a groundbreaking later this year or in January 2026, officials said. The county said it anticipates both Station 9 and a rebuilt Station 5 at the airport — a partnership with the airport authority — will be operational and running calls in November or December 2026.

Fire Rescue also described preventive and community programs. Staff plan to deliver fire-safety education to every first- and second-grade classroom in Glynn County during Fire Prevention Month. The department has a virtual-reality extinguisher-training prop for businesses and community events and said it will relaunch community CPR training series. A trunk-or-treat community event is scheduled for Oct. 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Public Safety Complex by Glynn County Police and Fire Services.

Officials credited SPLOST funding for the vehicles and stations and said county leadership approved the budget allocations. They portrayed the investments as part of broader efforts to improve response capability after years of deferred infrastructure and staffing shortfalls.

The podcast hosts and Fire Rescue leaders framed much of the expansion as building community trust and visibility; Assistant Chief Vera Morrison, who has been in the job about five months, said she feels “like I'm home. I feel like I'm with family,” and that she is focusing on improving processes and training.

No formal motions or votes were described on the broadcast.