Dirty South FOOLS

05/30/2026

🔥 FIRED UP: Fire Department Leadership Conference 🔥
Leadership matters. Whether you're a firefighter, officer, aspiring leader, or chief, this conference is designed to provide practical leadership lessons, professional development, and real-world experience you can take back to your department.
We're excited to announce that 50% of all ticket sales, along with an additional donation from the Dirty South F.O.O.L.S., will be donated to Next Rung, helping support firefighters and first responders through peer support, mental health resources, and crisis assistance.
Join us for a day of learning, networking, and investing in the future of the fire service while also supporting an incredible organization that supports our brothers and sisters when they need it most.
🎟 Register today:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fired-up-fire-department-leadership-tickets-1990038898917?aff=oddtdtcreator
Help us spread the word by sharing this post and inviting members of your department.

05/24/2026

The Dirty South F.O.O.L.S. are proud to announce that a portion of all ticket sales will be donated to Next Rung in support of firefighter and first responder mental health initiatives.
Next Rung continues to make a tremendous impact by providing support, resources, and assistance to firefighters and their families across the country. We are honored to help support their mission while bringing the fire service together through this event.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support the Dirty South F.O.O.L.S., our conference, and the brotherhood.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fired-up-fire-department-leadership-tickets-1990038898917?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/22/2026

🔥 SOUTH GEORGIA FIRED UP: LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 🔥

Brotherhood. Training. Leadership.

We’re bringing together firefighters and leaders from across the region for a day focused on building stronger crews, stronger leaders, and a stronger fire service.

Join us as we hear from an incredible lineup of speakers:
🚒 Blake Stinnett
🚒 Shane Bentley
🚒 Ali Mims

These men bring real-world experience, leadership lessons, faith, culture, and passion for serving others both on and off the fireground.

📅 July 17th, 2026
📍 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center – Room 19
⏰ Doors Open: 8:00 AM
🎤 Speakers Start: 9:00 AM

Whether you’re a young firefighter, company officer, chief officer, or someone simply passionate about the fire service, this conference is designed to challenge, encourage, and equip you.

⚠️ Spots will fill quickly. Scan the QR code on the flyer to register.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fired-up-fire-department-leadership-tickets-1990038898917?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/16/2026

🔥 SPEAKER REVEAL – DAY 3 🔥
It’s time to officially introduce our final speaker for the Fired Up: Leadership Conference 👇
👤 Shane Bentley
Shane is a devoted man of faith who loves the LORD wholeheartedly and strives to lead every aspect of his life with purpose and integrity.
Whether it’s with family, friends, or those around him in the fire service, Shane is known for leading with strength, kindness, humility, and compassion. He is the kind of person who is always willing to lend a helping hand, put others before himself, and encourage those who may need it most.
His passion for serving others and making a positive impact is evident in everything he does. Shane represents the kind of servant leadership our fire service and communities need more of today.
🙏 Faith-driven
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-oriented
🤝 Servant leader
🔥 Passionate about pouring into others
We are honored to have Shane joining us for the Fired Up: Leadership Conference and know his message will challenge, encourage, and inspire those in attendance.
👥 If Shane has impacted your life in some way, drop a comment below and show him some love.
🔥 This conference is shaping up to be something special.

05/15/2026

🔥 SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT – DAY 3 🔥
We’ve got one more speaker to introduce for the Fired Up: Leadership Conference… and this one is going to hit home for a lot of people 👇
👤 Speaker #3
A devoted man of faith who leads with humility and purpose
Known for putting others before himself and always being willing to lend a helping hand
Leads his family with strength, kindness, and integrity
Passionate about encouraging others and making a lasting impact in the lives around him
This speaker embodies what servant leadership truly looks like—both inside and outside the fire service.
💭 Think you know who it is?
Drop your guess in the comments ⬇️
👥 Tag someone who lives this kind of leadership every day.
🎯 Official reveal coming tomorrow!

05/15/2026

05/08/2026

🔥 SPEAKER REVEAL – DAY 2 🔥

The guesses were rolling in… and now it’s time to officially introduce our next speaker for the Fired Up: Leadership Conference 👇

👤 Blake Stinnett

Blake brings more than a decade of fire service experience, but more importantly, he brings a mission-driven heart for serving the people beside him every single shift.

His message centers around something every firefighter understands:
We say “FOR THEM” when talking about the citizens we serve… but what about the firefighters standing next to us?

Blake challenges the fire service to change its mindset—to intentionally pour into our crews, fight for those still with us, and make sure our brothers and sisters know they are valued, cared for, and never alone.

🚒 12 years in the fire service
🙏 Passionate about faith, leadership, and brotherhood
🧠 Founder of Next Rung, a nonprofit dedicated to firefighter and first responder mental health
⚒️ Cadre member with Bearers of the Oath

Blake’s story, passion, and authenticity are impacting firefighters across the country, and we are honored to have him joining us.

Please continue to keep Blake and his family in your prayers as he recovers from an on-duty injury.

👥 If Blake or Next Rung has impacted you personally, drop a comment below. Your story may help someone else.

🔥 This is going to be a message the fire service needs to hear.

05/07/2026

🔥 SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT – DAY 2 🔥

Alright… y’all did pretty solid on the first one! 👀
Let’s see who really knows their people with this one.

👤 Speaker #2

12 years in the fire service
Passionate about shifting the mindset from just “FOR THEM” to also serving those beside us on every shift
Deeply focused on mental health, brotherhood, and making sure no one fights alone
Founder of a nonprofit dedicated to supporting firefighters and first responders
Serves as a cadre member with Bearers of the Oath

This speaker brings a powerful message about purpose, faith, and taking care of our own—not just on the fireground, but in life.

💭 Your mission:
Who is Speaker #2? Drop your guess below ⬇️

👥 Tag someone who needs to hear this message

⚠️ Bonus: If you know the nonprofit he founded, drop that too…

🎯 Answer reveal tomorrow!

05/06/2026

🔥 SPEAKER REVEAL 🔥

Y’all had some solid guesses… but it’s time to make it official 👇

👤 Speaker #1 is Chief Ali Mims

Chief Mims began his fire service journey as a volunteer in 2001—like so many of us—quickly realizing this wasn’t just a job, it was a calling.

He was hired by Augusta Fire Department in 2007, where he rose through the ranks to become a Training Lieutenant, helping shape and develop firefighters from the ground up.

In 2019, he transitioned into education as the Department Head of the Fire Science Program at Savannah Technical College, continuing his mission of building the next generation. Shortly after, he stepped into a critical statewide role with Georgia Emergency Management Agency / Homeland Security, coordinating Regional Hazardous Materials Teams and Georgia Search & Rescue (GSAR) teams for five years.

Today, Chief Mims is back where it all started—serving the fire service directly as the Fire Chief for the City of Swainsboro.

🎓 Associate’s Degree in Fire Science
🎓 Bachelor’s in Public Safety Administration
🎓 Currently pursuing a Master’s in Homeland Security
🚨 Recently accepted into the prestigious Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy

Chief Mims brings a wealth of experience from the street, the classroom, and statewide operations—and we’re fired up to have him with us.

👥 If you’ve worked with Chief Mims or heard him speak, drop something below for others to see

🔥 This is one you don’t want to miss at the Fired Up: Leadership Conference

05/05/2026

🔥 SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT – DAY 1 🔥

We’re kicking things off with our first mystery speaker for the Fired Up: Leadership Conference…

Let’s see who’s paying attention 👀👇

👤 Speaker #1

Started in the fire service as a volunteer in the early 2000s
Earned a full-time position with a well-known Georgia fire department and worked up to Training Lieutenant
Transitioned into shaping the next generation as a Fire Science Program leader
Played a key role at the state level coordinating Hazardous Materials and Search & Rescue teams
Now leading from the front as a Fire Chief here in Georgia

🎓 Holds multiple degrees in Fire Science and Public Safety, currently pursuing a Master’s in Homeland Security
🚨 Recently accepted into the prestigious Executive Fire Officer Program

This is someone who has seen the fire service from every angle—operations, training, education, and leadership.

💭 Your mission:
Who is Speaker #1? Drop your guess below ⬇️

👥 Tag someone who SHOULD know this one…

🎯 Correct answer drops tomorrow!