County adopts uniform fire services ordinance after chiefs’ endorsement
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Summary
Following a public hearing in which local fire chiefs supported a new county fire services ordinance, the board adopted the ordinance establishing minimum standards for training and response coordination; chiefs told the board the measure had unanimous support among department leadership.
The Russell County Board of Supervisors adopted a county fire services ordinance on Nov. 3 after a public hearing and recommendation from area fire chiefs.
Chief McCoy of the Atlanta Fire Department spoke for county fire leadership, saying the chiefs’ association had voted unanimously in favor of the ordinance. He told the board the ordinance establishes minimum training standards and a countywide framework for incident command, mutual aid coordination and operational consistency across municipal and volunteer fire organizations.
The ordinance includes a timetable for training elements (EVOC and other certifications) and allows participating departments a six‑month period to comply with specified training requirements. Chief McCoy and other chiefs told the board the measure is intended to set a baseline for safety while recognizing local volunteer constraints.
The board closed the public hearing and, after brief discussion, voted to adopt the ordinance. County staff and fire department leadership will coordinate on implementation, recordkeeping and a timeline for certification completion.
The adoption does not change the structure of individual volunteer companies but provides county‑level minimums for training, reporting and mutual‑aid processes. County staff will provide further implementation details and follow‑up reporting to the board.