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Oconee County Fire Rescue
Oconee County Fire Rescue is a county-wide system that is provided for every person in Oconee County. On the Oconee County website, it states that “The mission of Oconee County Fire Rescue is to save lives and property, to strive to provide the best emergency services possible, and to promote fire safety to make Oconee County a safer place to live. The county is made up of seven fire stations with 145 volunteer firefighters and 32 volunteer first responders.” These first responders provide the medical care needed for each person in Oconee County and are known as the EMS unit of Oconee County Fire Rescue. To be a First Responder for Oconee County, you must go through the First Responder course and pass all required parts. Not only are some of them called first responders, but some of them have the proper training needed to be called an Emergency Medical Technician. In order to be considered an EMT, you must go through EMT training and pass all required levels of the course. The Fire Department also requires that each volunteer firefighter go through Firefighter 1 classes and pass all of the assessments and tests of the course. Both of these services work together to create the services needed for the specific calls and other activities that they may have to attend. As stated on the Oconee County website, “The fire department itself has many responsibilities including: planning, coordinating and implementing the fire prevention and suppression activities of seven volunteer fire stations in Oconee County; responding to all structure fires in Oconee County and other applicable calls; keeping updated records for ISO (Insurance Services Organization) and working to achieve the best ISO rating; coordinating joint training for all stations; providing fire safety classes for schools and daycare centers; working with local and state agencies on arson investigations; recruiting new volunteer firefighters and coordinating volunteer firefighter training.” Every year, Oconee County has an appreciation banquet for their volunteer firefighters and first responders. At each banquet, there is named a firefighter of the year and a first responder or EMT of the year. In 2010, Captain Dave Novak was named the Emergency Medical Technician of the year. According to an article written for the Oconee Leader, "Captain Novak has been volunteering with Oconee Fire Rescue since 2005 and is a full-time firefighter with the City of Monroe Fire Department and works part-time with National EMS.” Every day, Oconee County Fire Rescue does not know what to expect, but they sure are ready for whatever comes their way! They work extra hard to save others' lives and are extremely dedicated to their responsibilities.

Watkinsville Fire Station:
Chief: Mickey Smith Asst. Chief: Eddy Thaxton Asst. Chief: Mike Link Asst. Chief: Bob Ward Captain: Jim Pirkle Captain: J.W. Thaxton Training Officer: J.W. Thaxton / Paul Thaxton / Steve Barnhart Secretary/Treasurer: Tim Haller

South Oconee Fire Station:
Chief: Mike Hale Asst. Chief: Greg Peck Captain: Mark Capobianco Training Officer: Brad Hale / Clay Peck / Dusty Powell

Dark Corner Fire Station:
Chief: Chris Higginbotham Asst. Chief: Joe Palmer Captain: Nelson Foell Captain: Ricky Hayes <P>Training Officer: Scott Allan (Rest In Peace)

East Oconee Fire Station:
<P>Chief: Russ Henson <P>Asst. Chief: John VanGotum <P>Captain: Jason Mauldin <P>Training Officer: Jason Gantt

North High Shoals Fire Station:
<P>Chief: Kenny Searcy <P>Asst. Chief: Neil Boss <P>Captain: Brent Burrell <P>Training Officer: Jake Sosebee

North Oconee Fire Station:
<P>Chief: Bill Bray <P>Asst. Chief: Glen Cain <P>Captain: Regenia Abbott <P>Training Officer: Sue Nebelung

Barber Creek Fire Station:
<P>Chief: Keith Kelley <P>Asst. Chief: Mike Truluck <P>Captain: Charles Getch <P>Captain: David Novak <P>Training Officer: Kelly Patterson <P>Secretary/Treasurer: Wilhelm Waters

Yearly Response Times 2000-2009
<P>2000: 6.58 minutes <P>2001: 6.79 minutes <P>2002: 6.58 minutes <P>2003: 6.65 minutes <P>2004: 7.04 minutes <P>2005: 7.08 minutes <P>2006: 6.96 minutes <P>2007: 7.15 minutes <P>2008: 7.11 minutes <P>2009: 6.97 minutes