Union County, GA Volunteer Fire-Rescue Station 5

03/04/2026

01/26/2026

01/14/2026

10/22/2025

Wildfire – Preparing Your Home
Last week’s column provided some information on outdoor burning and reviewed the burning safety standards set by the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC). We encourage everyone to utilize these safety standards when burning leaves and other hand piled yard debris to prevent wildfires. We also encourage everyone to learn more about how to prepare your family, home, and community for wildfires.
A good place to start is with Firewise USA®. This program has a great deal of information on how to become a Firewise Community, wildfire prevention, performance actions when there is a wildfire in your area, and most important how to prepare your home for wildfire.
Here are a few tips provided by NFPA and Firewise USA® that homeowners can use to protect their home. Homeowners should first evaluate their home for flammable materials or debris which may be on or near their home that could ignite due to flying embers. These wildfire embers are a major cause of home fires. Homeowners should create defensible space around the home by reducing fuels (leaves, bushes, and trees) in the “Home Ignition Zone”.
Homeowners can also reduce fire risk by performing yard maintenance and choosing non-flammable landscaping. To reduce ember ignitions and fire spread, trim branches that overhang the home, porch, and deck and prune branches of large trees up to 6 to 10 feet (depending on their height) from the ground. Remove plants containing resins, oils, and waxes. Use crushed stone or gravel instead of flammable mulches.
Roof materials and roof vents should be considered. Class A fire-rated roofing products, such as composite shingles, metal, concrete, and clay tiles, offer the best protection. Inspect shingles or roof tiles and replace or repair those that are loose or missing to prevent ember pe*******on. Box in eaves but provide ventilation to prevent condensation and mildew. Roof and attic vents should be screened to prevent ember entry.
Home decks and porches should be evaluated for leaves, yard debris, or flammable materials that can ignite from flying embers. We have seen several home fires which have started this way. Remove dead vegetation and debris from under decks and porches and between deck board joints. Never store flammable materials underneath decks or porches.
Most of these practices can be found at Firewise USA®. For information on Firewise USA® or wildfire preparedness, contact your local U.S. Forest Service, Georgia Forestry Commission, or Union County Fire Department. Union County Fire Department ~Our Family Protecting Your Family~

10/15/2025

Fall Outdoor Burning
Fall is just around the corner. It is time for cooler temperatures and of course, the falling leaves. We will begin to see property owners removing and destroying these leaves and other yard debris. This is usually done by outdoor burning. These fires are small most of the time and may be in a person’s yard or on their private property. These fires do produce some smoke and may be concerning to neighbors or persons passing by. Most of these fires are well contained, controlled burns and should not be a concern; however, some do get out and become wildfires.
Property owners are allowed to burn hand piled leaves and/or yard debris as long as they follow the outdoor burning safety standards as explained by the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC). It is important that everyone understands the elements and dangers of outdoor burning as well as the outdoor burning safety standards.
The outdoor burning safety standards are actions and precautions that property owners must take to promote safety and to prevent wildfires. A GFC awareness campaign was launched a few years ago introducing the theme “Take Five” before the burn and to remember the acronym “S-S-T-A-R” representing the five points of the outdoor burning safety standard.
The first “S” represents Space. There must be 25 feet or more between the fire and woodlands. The second “S” also represents Space stating that there must be 50 feet or more between the fire and any structures. The “T” represents Time. Burning can only be conducted from sunrise to sunset. The “A” represents Attendance. A person responsible for the fire must stay onsite with the fire until it is completely extinguished.
The “R” represents Reasonable Precautions. The concept of reasonable precautions is to have tools and measures in place to prevent the fire from escaping. These include things such as a continuous pressurized water source on site; man-made or natural barrier to contain the fire; hand tools or fire-containing equipment on site; weather awareness such as red flag warnings, High Fire Danger designation, and other hazardous conditions such as low relative humidity, high winds, etc.
Just as a reminder, property owners are only allowed to burn certain materials. Only hand-piled leaves or naturally occurring yard debris can be burned. Household garbage or other man-made materials cannot be burned.
Anyone who burns hand-piled leaves or yard debris should research the law and outdoor burning safety requirements. For more information about outdoor burning and the five safety precautions, please visit www.gatrees.org. Union County Fire Department ~Our Family Protecting Your Family~

09/24/2025

Support Firefighter Class
Your Union County Fire Department is a combination department meaning there are both career and volunteer firefighters who respond to emergencies in Union County. The department is mostly volunteer. These volunteers are a group of dedicated men and women who sacrifice time and effort to complete fire training and to respond to emergencies. To join the fire department as a volunteer, firefighters must be trained. All volunteer firefighters start their firefighting journey by completing the entry level course for the department, the Basic Support Firefighter Course.
Not all firefighters go into burning buildings. Some operate firetrucks, set up fire hoses, provide water supply, or generally support firefighting operations. That is the Support Firefighter’s role. Volunteers must complete the Basic Support Firefighter course and pass the Georgia Firefighters Standards and Training Council’s Basic Support Firefighter Test. The department has just completed a Basic Support Firefighter course and have graduated several new members of the department.
The class began last month and the students have been very dedicated and energetic during the class. The class began with orientation and fire behavior where students were introduced to the science of fire. The class then taught students subjects such as communications, personal protective equipment, fire hoses, support functions, and fire ground operations.
Students must also complete a basic hazardous materials course. The course, Hazardous Materials Awareness, is an entry level course that introduces students to hazardous materials. The class includes chemical characteristics, common containers and transport, how to identify hazardous materials, and how to notify supporting agencies to help safely handle a hazardous materials incident. The Hazardous Material Awareness course is part of the basic requirement to be a firefighter.
Both courses include a great deal of reading and studying that recruits must do on their own time. At almost every class, recruits practice the skills they have learned. Recruits are drilled on the use of their personal protective equipment and how to operate various pieces of fire equipment that may be used on the fire scene.
Fighting fire requires a great deal of knowledge and skill. Recruits must be dedicated to the service and be willing to complete the multitude of training to become a firefighter. We are very proud of the recruits and their commitment to the training and to the department. Union County Fire Department ~Our Family Protecting Your Family~

09/10/2025

Remembering September 11th

September 11th is Patriot Day. This day is a time to remember the people killed in the September 11th attacks of 2001. It has been 24 years since that tragic day, but the memories and feelings can still be stirred when the images are seen or when someone talks about the events of that day.

The attacks on America were horrific and shown live on TVs around the world. To see the Pentagon, a symbol of our military, severely damaged by a plane created a concern over our vulnerability. To see two of the tallest buildings in the world, a symbol of New York and America, hit by planes was shocking enough but to see them collapse was more than the senses could comprehend.

Patriot Day, September 11th, is a special date for all Americans, but it holds a special place in the hearts of all firefighters across the country. As firefighters, we remember the 343 firefighters who died that day. We remember those who charged into a battle that many knew could be their last. They were firefighters and when firefighters hear the call for help, they go; even when the risk is known; even when the cost may be great.

We can only imagine what they were thinking. Some may have been thinking this was the greatest incident of their career and they wanted to be part of it. Some may have thought this was the last event that they would respond to because they knew. But I would bet that all of them were thinking, “how can I help” because that is what firefighters do.

Every time we see an image of one of the planes hitting the buildings, or the twin towers on fire, or a firefighter running up a stairwell, we think about that morning and emotions return. People remember where they were and what they were doing on September 11th.

After September 11th, we made a promise. That promise was to Never Forget. But how short are the memories!!!! After 24 years, there are people who may not remember the events of that day or the sacrifices made, but we must. We must remember that we were attacked and that we, as a country, were victims in our own way. We must remember the people who died in the planes and in the buildings. We must remember the people, the firefighters, who rushed in to save as many people as they could, before they were taken from this world. We must remember and keep our promise of Never Forget. Union County Fire Department ~Our Family Protecting Your Family~

08/11/2025

Union County Volunteer Fire Station 5 (Suches) had its annual Open House on Saturday, August 9th. The Open House is a great opportunity for the citizens of the Suches area to visit with the firefighters, view the fire apparatus and equipment, and to have some good food provided by the station. Volunteer firefighters provided displays and demonstrations of fire, rescue, and medical equipment. The volunteer firefighters operate two fire stations in the Suches area: Station 5 (Suches) and Station 11 (Gaddistown). There is one career firefighter-EMT on duty during the week at Station 5. We would like to thank everyone for being part of this event and for all their continued support.