Rabun County Fire Services triumphs 2017

CLAYTON — 2017 was a busy year for Rabun County Fire Services (RCFS), with approximately 1,906 calls, 13,846 training hours logged and the hiring of 11 new volunteer firefighters.

Assistant Fire Chief Justin Upchurch told WRBN that between the 12 stations in Rabun County, Station One situated in Clayton, answered to more than 700 of the logged calls for 2017. He additionally added that most of the calls, 60 percent, were medical – while others were fire related.  

11 new certified firefighters were also welcomed to join forces for RCFS — all of which completed the 95 hour training. The training for each registered volunteer ran from March to June according to Upchurch who hosted the training two nights a week until completion.

Apart from the heroes doing their part to make Rabun County a safer place for its residents, RCFS also donated 28 smoke detectors free of charge to people in need of them. Upchurch said the station decided to ramp up fire safety education by buying smoke alarms, $25 per unit, and began making rounds with the Meals on Wheels program.

The assistant fire chief said he had noticed the Meals on Wheels program was needing volunteers, so he had approached Darrin Giles, the County Administrator. Giles authorized the idea and Upchurch said he began making a monthly route where he would help spread fire and medical safety to the senior citizen population.  

Upchurch told WRBN the station since then has applied for another grant though KIDDE, a smoke alarm manufacturer, to replenish their stock in order to continue the distribution process.