02/24/2026
A few years ago, I walked through the doors of Calhoun Fire Department and saw a department doing everything it could with very little. There weren’t many volunteers left. Some of the trucks weren’t even in working order. But what we did have… was heart.
And that heart is the reason we are here today.
Since 2021, Calhoun FD has come a long way. A generous donation from Sam Sloan helped provide the equipment and resources we desperately needed. Because of that support, we now operate two stations, two front-line engines, two tankers, two brush trucks, and reserve apparatus. We are better equipped than we have ever been.
But let me be very clear about something.
Trucks don’t answer calls.
People do.
The men and women of Calhoun FD volunteer their time. They leave dinner tables. They step away from their kids’ ballgames. They get out of warm beds at 2:00 in the morning. They show up in the middle of storms, on holidays, and during the worst days of someone else’s life.
They train when they’re tired.
They respond when they’re needed.
They serve because they care.
They do it without a paycheck. Without recognition. Without expecting anything in return.
They do it because they love this community.
When you hear a siren in Calhoun, that sound is not just equipment rolling out. It’s someone’s spouse. Someone’s parent. Someone’s son or daughter. Someone who chose to put their community ahead of their own comfort.
That is why you can feel safe.
It is not because of shiny trucks.
It is not because of a building.
It is because of heart.
Every volunteer across Henry County deserves appreciation and respect. These departments survive on dues and community support, but they run on people willing to serve.
Sam’s donation helped bring us to where we needed to be. Community support keeps us there. And volunteers are what make it all possible.
If you have heart… if you care about your neighbors… if you want to make a difference that truly matters… there is a place for you here.
Calhoun FD isn’t just a fire department. It’s neighbors helping neighbors. It’s ordinary people doing extraordinary things when the call comes in.
To every volunteer who has ever answered that call — THANK YOU. You are the reason this community can rest a little easier at night.
And to those who have been thinking about stepping up… we’re ready for you.
