Oneonta Fire and Rescue Service

08/26/2026

🐾 Interested in Being Sparky the Fire Dog? 🚒

Oneonta Fire & Rescue Service is looking for individuals interested in volunteering to portray Sparky the Fire Dog® at community events, school programs, fire prevention activities, and other special events.

We’re looking for dependable, energetic people who enjoy working with children and representing our department in the community.

Interested individuals will become part of a volunteer auxiliary program under Oneonta Fire & Rescue Service. This is an unpaid volunteer position, but if you’re looking for a unique way to serve your community and be involved with the fire department without becoming a firefighter, this could be it!

If you’re interested in becoming one of our Sparky volunteers, please email me at [email protected] for more information and an application.

A few expectations for our Sparky volunteers:

* Must be dependable and professional
* Sparky does not speak while in character
* Must remain in character while in public
* Must be comfortable interacting with children and families
* Must follow the direction of Sparky’s handler
* Must represent Oneonta Fire & Rescue Service in a positive, family-friendly manner
* Must take care of and respect the Sparky costume
* Must be able to work in a hot environment (mascot costume).

Help us bring Sparky to life and spread the fire-safety message throughout our community!

08/25/2026

🚒 Ever wanted to own a Oneonta fire truck? Here’s your chance!

One of our former trucks is up for sale. If you’ve got a kid at home who LOVES fire trucks, buying this might just lock up Parent of the Year. 😂

Just kidding… but this would be a good addition to your fleet!

. - Shop used Firetrucks on Fire Truck Mall

08/21/2026

There’s always been a tradition in the fire service that you take care of your own house.

The trucks get washed, the equipment gets checked, the floors get swept, and every now and then the walls get a fresh coat of paint. It’s just part of life around a firehouse. Everybody pitches in and takes care of the place we spend so much of our time at.

That tradition goes back generations. Firefighters have always taken pride in their stations and taken care of them just like they would their own homes.

So when Chief walked in and decided it was time for a little “spring cleaning,” we knew what that meant.

Never mind that it’s August.

When Chief says it’s spring cleaning… it’s spring cleaning.

A couple gallons of paint and a little work later, the station is getting freshened up.

08/18/2026

Over the next three days, personnel with Oneonta Fire & Rescue will be completing comprehensive firefighter physicals with VITALExam, a company specializing in health screenings for first responders.

These evaluations go well beyond a routine physical and include:

* Multi-organ ultrasound screening
* Treadmill EKG stress testing
* Cardiac evaluation
* Blood work
* Vision screening
* Hearing screening
* Flexibility and musculoskeletal assessment
* Additional occupational health screenings

Firefighters face unique occupational health risks, including increased risks for certain cancers and cardiovascular disease. Comprehensive annual screenings provide an opportunity to identify potential concerns early.

We appreciate the VITALExam team for coming to our station and providing these important screenings for our personnel.

08/17/2026

With temperatures staying high, remember to watch for the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Stay hydrated, take breaks in the shade or air conditioning, and don’t ignore the warning signs.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency — call 911.

08/15/2026

This morning, our crew spent some time training with Murphree Valley Fire Department on mutual aid dump tank operations.

Dump tanks are an important part of rural firefighting when hydrants aren’t available or can’t provide the water supply needed. Tankers can dump their water into the portable tanks and return to refill while crews continue flowing water at the scene. When multiple departments are working together, keeping that water supply moving takes good communication and coordination.

Training together before an emergency helps everyone understand the setup and makes things run a lot smoother when it counts.

We appreciate Murphree Valley Fire Department spending the morning training with us. Mutual aid is a big part of the fire service, and working together makes all of our departments better.

08/14/2026

Today’s crew took advantage of an opportunity to get in some training while replacing a broken flagpole at the Oneonta Sports Complex.

Using our ladder truck gave the crew some valuable hands-on time with apparatus placement and aerial operations while also taking care of something that needed to be done.

A little training, a little community service, and Old Glory is back flying over the sports complex. 🇺🇸🚒

08/12/2026

🍣 What’s for lunch at the firehouse?

A-Shift changed things up today with Lt. Loggins taking over the kitchen and making homemade sushi for the crew!

Firehouse meals are about more than just food. They’re a chance for the crew to sit down together between calls, enjoy a meal, and build the camaraderie that makes a shift a team.

We’re not sure when Lt. Loggins added “sushi chef” to his list of qualifications, but judging by the finished product, we’ll allow it. 🍣🚒

08/11/2026

We want to take a minute to recognize the tremendous job Donna Southern and her team at DHR are doing in our community.

Because of privacy concerns, we can’t share many of the details surrounding a recent situation. What we can say is that our crews identified a problem involving a citizen who needed additional assistance beyond what we could provide. Donna was able to quickly address the issue and help get the appropriate support and resources in place.

She truly went above and beyond. Donna is leading from the front, working to find solutions, and showing what it means to have a servant’s heart. Her willingness to step in and do far more than what was simply required has not gone unnoticed.

A lot of important work happens behind the scenes that the public never gets to see. This is a great example of different agencies working together, identifying a need, and making sure someone in our community gets the help and support they need.

Thank you, Donna, for caring about the people in our community and for always being willing to go the extra mile when it matters most.