Union County Fire Station No. 2 hosted a packed annual Open House on Sept. 20, dedicating an afternoon to fun and education for the public off Jones Creek Road.
The place even had some canine guests, as one family brought their dog, and Firefighter Shirley Anderson dressed her dachshund Samson in his own little uniform, including boots, a jacket, goggles, a hat and a tiny oxygen tank.
Continue reading with a subscription.
North Georgia News — serving Union County since 1909.
Cancel anytime.
One big draw, too, was the free meal provided to guests, which included hot dogs, hamburgers and barbecue complete with toppings and sauces. Donnia Legg, who has enjoyed the swift action of Station No. 2 on several occasions, commended the lovely luncheon.
“The food’s good,” she said, but more importantly acknowledged the necessity of upholding such a welcoming environment. “I think (the open house is) great. We need it; our community’s growing so big. So far, it’s been very nice, very accommodating.”
Echoing Legg’s sentiment that the firefighters are “very helpful when you need them,” Jocelyn Bowers may not have needed assistance for an out-of-control burn, but she does appreciate the fire education that the Fire Department encourages among local youth.
A bouncy house along with hose and fire extinguisher demonstrations kept kids busy while adults learned more about local initiatives that are working in tandem with the Fire Department to keep them and their families safe.
Charles Flowers explained the Community Emergency Response Team. Some residents could remember when CERT was more active in the area around the 1990s, but, as Flowers said, the double-edged sword of a lack of necessity resulted in the group becoming inactive for a time.
“The idea behind CERT is to tap into the community’s civilian knowledge, especially with the retired people. I’ve had retired nurses, I’ve got retired mechanical engineers, I’ve got retired construction people,” Flowers said. “In case of a big natural disaster, we can tap into that knowledge.”
Essentially, CERT saves time for firefighters and first responders in disaster situations. In the event of, for example, a major storm like a tornado, CERT volunteers can check around houses in their neighborhood to make sure everyone is accounted for.
If they are safe, CERT can notify first responders, who can in turn focus on more harshly impacted areas. Alternatively, if help is needed, CERT can help organize a quicker response, leading to more lives and property saved.
The Georgia Forestry Commission also had a presence at the open house courtesy of Blake Melton, who has been with the organization for 19 years. Georgia Forestry assists the Fire Department with wildfires and helps administer programs to access specialized equipment.
“We try to help each other out all we can,” Melton said, warning that most wildfires in this region happen during the fall, winter and spring, when foliage is dry and not in full bloom.
Many people burn their trash, which is illegal, and Melton warned that the public should keep an eye on the weather and drought conditions if they plan on burning what is legally permissible, namely, natural vegetation. A helpful handout detailed the SSTAR safety formula.
The first two Ss both stand for Space. Make sure that there are 25 or more feet between the intended fire and any woodlands. Also, ensure that the fire is at least 50 feet from any structures. Next, T stands for Time; it’s safest to burn in the daylight, from sunrise to sunset. A is for Attendance, so keep someone on-site to watch the fire until it’s fully extinguished.
Finally, R is for Reasonable precautions. Take the time to set up a plan for an escaped fire or use the proper tools to help contain a blaze. Some examples include a continuous pressurized water source on-site, such as a hose, and barriers such as bare soil, rocks or a burn barrel. Be sure to keep fire-containing equipment nearby, including rakes, shovels, and garden hoes.
