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Augusta Fire Department outlines multiyear mental-health plan after several recent losses; commission directs chief to return with a comprehensive approach
Summary
Chief Burden and partners described peer-support teams, QPR training with Augusta University, federal grant-funded fitness investments and a partnership with Valor Station for intensive outpatient care after 2025 losses; the commission directed the chief to work with AU and Valor and return with a concrete plan.
The Augusta Richmond County Commission directed Fire Chief (Burden) to develop a comprehensive, multi-tiered mental-health and resilience plan for first responders after a lengthy discussion about recent deaths and chronic overtime.
"The Augusta Fire Department has faced that incredibly difficult year in 2025 marked by the tragic loss of some of our own," Chief Burden told the commission, and he outlined immediate and longer-term steps: critical-incident stress management, conversion to certified peer-support teams, department-wide resilience training with the International Association of Firefighters, mandatory QPR (question, persuade, refer) training for recruits, a therapy-dog program, and $240,000 in federal grants to purchase station workout equipment.
Dr. Marla Vernon of Augusta University described regional suicide-prevention work and presented county statistics, saying Richmond County’s suicide rate is 16.3 per 100,000 (higher than Georgia's 14.6) and that 55 percent of recent local suicide deaths were among ages 20–34 — an age range overlapping the first-responder workforce. "The largest share of deaths related to suicide in Richmond County occurs in working age adults," she said.
Local provider Valor Station (Andrew Carrier and clinical director Christy Ledford) described an intensive four-week outpatient program tailored to first responders' schedules and the need to reduce stigma and barriers to treatment. Carrier emphasized peer-to-peer approaches and the need for supervisor-level buy-in to prevent stigma from blocking help-seeking.
Commissioners unanimously approved a motion directing the chief to work with AU, Valor Station and other partners, to formalize policy and present a robust plan for long-term staff support and resilience training.
The motion included requests that staff define action steps, certification plans for peer-support members, and options to reduce mandatory overtime and other operational stressors; the department said it will return with a recommended, implementable plan.
