Screven County Fire Department

05/20/2026

On behalf of the entire Screven County Fire Department, we want to wish a very Happy Birthday to Mikki Burke Saxon!

Mikki is our Emergency Management Director, but let us be honest, around here she is basically the fire department operations manager whether she signed up for that title or not. She is the one keeping the moving parts moving, the plans lined up, the radios talking to the right people, and the chaos from turning into complete chaos. Most days she is three steps ahead of us and probably already fixing a problem we have not even noticed yet.

She is the calm in the middle of the storm, the voice that keeps everything organized, and somehow the one who can juggle every agency, every request, and every last minute change without missing a beat. We lean on her more than she probably knows, and we are better because she is in that role for this county and this department.

More than anything, we are grateful for her, for her leadership, and for the way she looks out for us like family.

Happy Birthday Mikki. Hope your day is full of laughter, good food, and at least a few hours where nobody asks you to fix anything.

❤️,
SCFD

05/17/2026

Tiny’s Tid Bits:

“The only way to know, is to go.”

We must be willing to train for the unknowns. The fire service does not give warnings before testing our abilities, and that is why we prepare long before the call ever comes in. Every drill, every class, and every skill practiced matters.

There is an irony that comes with this profession sometimes. Two of our firefighters recently completed an Interior Search and Rescue class, and this morning they were already putting those lessons to use during a two story residential fire. During operations, VES (Vent Enter Search) was applied as crews worked to successfully search and protect potential victims inside the structure. We can not always have the luxury of knowing undoubtedly that a structure is empty of victims. So they went.

Training is never wasted time. We may never know what the next call will bring, but we can choose to be ready for it.

Proud of the dedication our firefighters continue to show toward improving themselves and serving this community.

- Tiny Eddie A. Estrada
Training Officer
SCFD

05/14/2026

What are the five safety standards and how will I remember them?
Before you burn, “Take Five,” and remember the acronym, “S-S-T-A-R.” Each of the star’s five points represents a
burning safety standard:
S
S
T
A
R
Space – Burn location must be no less than 25 feet from any woodlands, forestland or field that
contains brush, grass or other flammable material.
Space – Burn location must be no less than 50 feet from structures, which includes homes,
outbuildings, sheds and barns.
Time – Burning must take place between sunrise and sunset.
Attendance – Person responsible must attend burning at all times until fire is completely
extinguished and there is no risk for burning to escape control.
Reasonable Precautions – Person responsible must take reasonable and necessary precautions
to prevent fire escape or spread from the original location.
What constitutes “reasonable precautions?”
Some examples include:
Continuous pressurized water source on site, such as water hose. Buckets of water or hand-held sprayers do
not meet legal requirements.
Man-made or natural barrier to contain your fire such as bare soil, rocks, bricks or burn barrel.
Hand tools or fire-containing equipment on site, such as rake, shovel, garden hoe, etc.
Weather awareness to NWS red flag warnings, High Fire Danger designation of Class 4 or Class 5 days and other
hazardous conditions, such as prolonged drought, low relative humidity or high winds, etc.

05/13/2026

Members of the Screven County Fire Department were proud to be part of the Livestock Emergency Response Plan (LERP) training hosted right here at home. With over 50 responders from across Georgia and South Carolina in attendance, the day was filled with hands on training, teamwork, and valuable experience working together to better serve our communities.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to train alongside so many dedicated professionals and continue building the knowledge and partnerships needed to better serve our communities during livestock and animal related emergencies.

A huge thank you to all of the organizers, sponsors, instructors, and the LERP team for making this event possible. Training and preparedness remain one of the strongest tools we have in emergency response.

05/13/2026

Wins.

Screven County High School recognized some outstanding young men and women during their Honors Awards Ceremony last night, and our fire department family could not be more proud.

To Riley Oglesby and Brody Taylor, congratulations on your achievements. As the youngest volunteers in our department, you both continue to prove that hard work, discipline, and character still matter. Watching you balance school, responsibility, and service to your community says a lot about the kind of men you are becoming.

Around here, we believe in celebrating victories both inside and outside the firehouse. That is what family does. We stand beside one another during difficult times, and we proudly cheer each other on during moments like these.

Never forget that your accomplishments inspire the people around you, including many of the older firefighters who see the effort you put in every single day. The future is bright for both of you, and this department is proud to walk alongside you as you continue growing into leaders.

Keep pushing forward. Keep serving others. Keep making your families, your school, and your community proud.

Remember, service is not about being important. It’s about being dependable. And you’re being just that. Congrats.

— Tiny Eddie A. Estrada
Training Officer
Screven County Fire Department

05/12/2026

Today is a proud day for all of us connected to the GDC Firefighter Program. Congratulations to James Vaughn and Oscar Sanchez on officially joining the fire service as career firefighters. Watching this program continue to produce dedicated professionals who answer the call to serve their communities is something special.

James and Oscar have both put in the work, stayed committed to the process, and represented Screven County with professionalism and pride. Not only have they stepped into neighboring counties to continue their careers, but they have also given back by serving as instructors during GPSTC training events on behalf of Screven County Fire Department. That says a lot about their character and dedication to the fire service.

It has been an honor to watch each of you grow through this journey. The GDC program has created more than firefighters. It has helped shape men who understand service, leadership, sacrifice, and purpose.

Congratulations again, brothers. Your hard work earned every bit of this opportunity, and I know this is only the beginning of the impact you will have in the fire service and in your communities.

🤙🏼🤘🏼💪🏼,
-Tiny (Eddie A. Estrada )

05/12/2026

Just a quick reminder that our blood drive is coming up!

🗓️ Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
🕚 Time: 9 am to noon
📍 Location: Parking lot
🔗 Sign up until the day before the drive at this link:
https://donor.shepeardblood.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/38705
You don’t need an account—just your name, date of birth, and phone number to schedule.
✅ Day-of Tips:
Complete your screening questionnaire the day of the drive via QuickPass:
https://www.shepeardblood.org/QuickPass
Be sure to eat a good meal and stay hydrated before donating
🩸 One pint of blood can save up to three lives!
Thank you for helping us make a difference in our community.

05/12/2026

The Screven County Board of Commissioners lifted the local burn ordinance this morning in their meeting. Please be mindful of the following from Georgia Forestry Commission if you decide to burn:
IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR BURNING
🔥Always check the Fire Weather Forecast , Current Fire Danger Rating, and the GFC Public Viewer for your area before initiating any type of outdoor burn.
🔥It is unlawful to burn man-made material such as household garbage, lumber or plastic.
🔥Only burn all-natural vegetation such as grass and hedge clippings, limbs, leaves, pine cones, and other naturally occurring debris on the premises which they occur.
🪾Debris cannot be collected at one location and hauled/transported to another site for the purposes of burning.
Once collected and transported, the debris will become subjected to EPD rules concerning solid waste and cannot be burned.
📌Local ordinances (city/county/municipality) concerning open/debris burning must be followed where they exist.

‼️‼️Even with improved conditions, parts of Georgia remain dry, and wildfire risk has not disappeared. It still only takes one spark to start a wildfire.

Learn about Georgia’s outdoor burning regulations and how to “Take Five” before burning, providing an easy five-point “S-S-T-A-R,” to visually remember your ...

05/07/2026

05/06/2026

The Screven County Commissioners signed an ordinance to temporarily limit outdoor burning on April 28th. The ordinance is still in effect until May 12, 2026. At that time, the Commissioners will assess conditions and decide to lift or extend the ordinance. This ordinance states:
Section 1: Temporary Ban on Outdoor Burning. No person shall ignite or allow the burning of yard debris, refuse, or other combustible material outdoors within the unincorporated area of Screven County.
Section 2: Exemptions: The following activities are specifically exempted from the temporary ban on outdoor burning:
(a) Controlled burns conducted by state, federal, and local government agencies and authorized personnel;
(b) Outdoor cooking, provided that all open flames shall be under constant supervision by a responsible adult; and
(c) Agricultural or forestry burns conducted under a valid permit from the Georgia Forestry Commission in compliance with state law and Georgia Forestry Commission guidelines, unless such activities are prohibited by administrative order of the Georgia Forestry Commission.