Gainesville Fire Department

05/25/2026

Thank you to all who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice!

05/01/2026

Is it that time of year 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺?? 🚫🔥

The State of Georgia's mandatory "Summer Burn Ban" prohibits the following open burning activities in 54 counties, including Hall, from May 1-Sept. 30:

❌ Reduction of leaves on premises
❌ Acquired structure burns
❌ Vegetative debris from storms
❌ W**d abatement, disease and pest prevention
❌ Land clearing, construction and right-of-way maintenance
❌ Land clearing with air curtain destructors
❌ Prescribed burning* (*prohibited in only 19 counties, but includes Hall)

Because air quality can deteriorate in the summer due to the formation of ground-level ozone ꟷ worsened by burning fuels and other combustible materials ꟷ the Summer Burn Ban aims to reduce ozone by prohibiting these activities.

Learn more ➡️: https://epd.georgia.gov/air-protection-branch/open-burning-rules-georgia/summer-open-burning-ban

04/21/2026

𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡, 𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦 | The westbound lanes of John W Morrow Jr Parkway are closed from Jesse Jewell Parkway to Washington Street as crews work to clear a motor vehicle accident involving an overturned dump truck carrying gravel.

Please plan to take an alternative route until further notice. Those traveling in the area are urged to drive carefully, follow all detour signs, and watch for construction workers, public safety personnel and equipment during this time.

Be sure to "Like" and follow the Gainesville Police Department for potential traffic updates.

Update- Roadway Open

🛑 𝗥𝗢𝗔𝗗 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗘 🛑

John Morrow Parkway WB closed from Jesse Jewell Parkway to Washington Street.

Crash involving overturned dump truck has closed the roadway. Cleanup is underway.

03/29/2026

𝗕𝗨𝗥𝗡 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗦 𝗦𝗨𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗗 | As high fire danger conditions persist across North Georgia, the City of Gainesville, Georgia has suspended burn permits until circumstances improve.

Low relative humidities, extremely dry fuels and winds, together, have resulted in the US National Weather Service Peachtree City Georgia's high fire danger warning, issued for Gainesville-Hall County, plus nearly 40 other Georgia counties.

03/06/2026

03/04/2026

𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 | The City of Gainesville’s internet connection has been restored.

𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗦𝗬𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗦 𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡 | The City of Gainesville, Georgia is working diligently with its third-party telecommunications provider to resolve a local outage impacting email and internet services at the Gainesville Administration Building, Gainesville Water Resources (DWR) and Hall Area Transit (HAT), among other City facilities.

Until connectivity can be restored, City personnel will have limited or no access to email and/or internet, meaning some services/staff may be unavailable/unreachable until then. To our knowledge, City phone service appears to remain in working order.

At this time, the City continues to await an estimated restoration time/date, which it will communicate with the public once available.

The City appreciates the public’s patience and understanding as it works through these connectivity challenges and, once services are restored, will work quickly to answer inquiries in the order they were received.

𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗧 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘
WeGo rideshare transportation bookings should be made via the 𝘞𝘦𝘎𝘰 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘝𝘪𝘢 app. HAT personnel, at this time, are unable to book rides on customers’ behalf.

𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗣𝗔𝗬𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦
DWR customer service representatives are unable to accept credit card payments, including payments over the phone. City water customers wanting to apply payments toward their billing accounts may do so in person with cash or check only.

02/23/2026

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𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 | Congratulations to Gainesville Fire Department (GFD) firefighter AJ Staton, who took home the third-ever Dan and Henry Award of Excellence at the Gainesville City Council's latest regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 17.

The Dan and Henry Award of Excellence recognizes the individual that is always behind the scenes making sure that things are being handled and never seeks recognition.

"Two of the most vital members from the earliest years of this department were named Dan and Henry, and they were the horses that pulled the wagon to every fire within the city," said Gainesville Fire Chief Brandon Ellis. "The unwavering duty that these two carried out daily helped ensure that our department remained steadfast. Today, this award signifies someone who shows that same steadfast commitment to the community they serve, without hesitation or requirement of recognition.

Ellis said Staton exudes this same commitment – to his department and the Gainesville community.

"AJ has been recognized by his peers as a candidate for the Firefighter of the Year award, but also someone that has been willing to step up when needed, admit when he's wrong and stay humble regardless of circumstances," he said.

Congratulations, firefighter Staton – you make the City of Gainesville, Georgia beyond proud!

📸 | Firefighter AJ Staton, 2025 Dan and Henry Award of Excellence recipient, center, is shown with Gainesville Fire Chief Brandon Ellis, left, and Mayor Zack Thompson. Staton is a member of the Gainesville Fire Department.

𝙀𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧'𝙨 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚 | 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦s𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴. 𝘉𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 "𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦" 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦.

02/22/2026

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𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 | Congratulations to Gainesville Fire Department Lt. Zach Segars, who took home the 2025 Fire Officer of the Year award at the Gainesville City Council’s latest regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 17.

The Fire Officer of the Year award recognizes the officer who has gone above and beyond the normal call of duty.

"Zach has been nominated by his peers as an officer who is the first to arrive and the last to leave," said Gainesville Fire Chief Brandon Ellis. "Zach shows new crew members what it truly means to be a team and isn’t afraid to set an example of hard work."

Congratulations, Lt. Segars – you make the City of Gainesville, Georgia beyond proud!

📸 | Lt. Zach Segars of the Gainesville Fire Department, named 2025 Fire Officer of the Year, center, is shown with Gainesville Fire Chief Brandon Ellis, left, and Mayor Zack Thompson.

𝙀𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧'𝙨 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚 | 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘺 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵. 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴. 𝘉𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 “𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦” 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦.

02/22/2026

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𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 | Congratulations to Gainesville Fire Department (GFD) Sgt. Josh Crawford, who took home the 2025 Firefighter of the Year award at the Gainesville City Council’s latest regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 17.

The Firefighter of the Year award recognizes the firefighter that is always dependable and willing to tackle any task whether asked or not.

Gainesville Fire Chief Brandon Ellis said Crawford goes above and beyond each and every day in his service to the community and fellow GFD crew members.

"Josh always has a smile on his face and laugh regardless of the situation," Ellis said. "He is a prime example of a public servant."

Congratulations, Sgt. Crawford – you make the City of Gainesville, Georgia beyond proud!

📸 | Sgt. Josh Crawford of the Gainesville Fire Department, named 2025 Firefighter of the Year, center, is shown with Gainesville Fire Chief Brandon Ellis, left, and Mayor Zack Thompson.

𝙀𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧'𝙨 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚 | 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘺 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴. 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵. 𝘉𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 “𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦” 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦.

02/20/2026

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𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗 | Congratulations to Lt. Cody Tucker, Sgt. Ryan Deaton, and firefighters Josh Viveros and Jack Wiley, recipients of the Gainesville Fire Department's (GFD) 2025 Lifesaving Award.

The Lifesaving Award recognizes personnel based on incidents that have occurred throughout this past year where because of their knowledge, training and fast actions, an individual was able to survive an otherwise tragic event.

This GFD Station 4 crew is credited with saving a man's life after responding to a cardiac arrest call Sept. 19, 2025. Upon arriving on scene, public safety personnel discovered the male patient unresponsive on his bedroom floor.

"After quick actions and coordination with the incoming ambulance, the patient regained a pulse on scene and was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for further treatment," said Gainesville Fire Chief Brandon Ellis. "The patient was able to make a full recovery and leave the hospital a week later."

The men were honored Tuesday, Feb. 17, before the public, their peers and the Gainesville City Council at its latest regular meeting in the municipal courtroom at the Roy Franklin Hooper Jr. Public Safety Building.

Congratulations, gentlemen – you make the City of Gainesville, Georgia beyond proud!

📸 | Shown, from left, are Gainesville Fire Chief Brandon Ellis, firefighters Josh Viveros and Jack Wiley, Lt. Cody Tucker, Sgt. Ryan Deaton and Mayor Zack Thompson. Part of Gainesville Fire Department Station 4, Viveros, Wiley, Tucker and Deaton received Lifesaving Awards for 2025.

𝙀𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧'𝙨 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚 | 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘺 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴. 𝘉𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 “𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦” 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦.