About Coweta County Professional Firefighters

Coweta County Fire Department was formed on November 24, 1972, by a group of citizens led by Barry Bass who could see a need for fire protection for the citizens of Coweta County. Through the dedication and hard work of the volunteers and concerned citizens of the county, the fire department was a success and began to grow at a very fast rate. With the increase demand for more fire stations and equipment, the lack of funds was compensated for by thousands of volunteer hours and donations from dedicated citizens. This was not enough to fund the growing fire department.

On September 10, 1973, the Coweta County Fire Department responded to it's first official call. It was a structure fire in the city of Turin.

On November 12, 1974, a referendum was passed by the citizens of Coweta County to authorize the Coweta County Commissioner to levy an Ad Valorem Tax on all the taxable properties within the boundaries of Coweta County Fire Protection District, at such rate or rates not exceeding 2.5 mills in order to provide funds with which to pay the cost of operating the fire protection facilities located within the Coweta County Fire Protection District.

On July 15, 1975, Coweta County Fire Department was responsible for the County's fire rating being lowered to a Class 9 from a Class 10. The Class 10 rating is the same as being unprotected. The announcement of the cost of fire insurance being lowered was made as a result of the volunteer fire department's rapid growth and training. The fire insurance reduction effected between 75 and 80 percent of the homeowners in Coweta County in the designated fire district. The rate cut was expected to take 2 years; however, the reduction was granted in only 7 months.

Mr. Conway Mizell of the Insurance Service Office stated that the growth of the county fire department was one of the most dramatic developments of any fire protection system he had ever seen in his long time career with the rating bureau in Georgia. Because of the continuing growth of the fire department, by adding more fire stations, personnel, better equipment and training, the insurance rating was reduced even further and effected more of the citizens in the county. The rating was changed to a class 8 on February 1, 1978 and again the present rating of a Class 6 on December 1,1981, which means a substantial savings in insurance premiums for the citizens with homes within 5 miles of a fire station.

Since 1981 our Department has continued to grow with the county. The county has obtained an enhanced 911 system, we have an additional tactical frequency (UHF), have continued to support the updating of our county water supplies, and with the aid of S.P.L.O.S.T. have developed a program for the rotation and updating of equipment and apparatus. We have gone from 6 stations to 14 stations and continued to build and/or remodel our stations in order to provide comfort and accessibility to our firefighters as well as the citizens we protect. In 1995 the department went through a re-organization. As we progress into the 21st century, the department continues to progress by adding more personnel, upgrading our facilities and equipment.

In 2003, we were again reviewed by I.S.O. and we were able to maintain our current rating of urban class 6/9.

With aid from the S.P.L.O.S.T. to purchase and upgrade equipment, the department will again call for an I.S.O. review in 2008.

Over the past 35 years we have had 8 fire chiefs:

Interim Chiefs