Want to be a Volunteer Firefighter? You can, Starting in January

Oconee County Fire Rescue will be conducting a 200-hour Firefighter I Course scheduled to begin January 7th, 2014. This course is offered to citizens that are interested in becoming a Volunteer Firefighter with Oconee County Fire Rescue.  Applicants that complete this course will receive a National Firefighter I Certification, which is the same certification that career fire departments require for paid firefighters. 

Persons interested in attending this course must complete a Volunteer Firefighter application form before December 31, 2013. Application forms may be obtained from the Oconee County Fire Rescue Office, 1291 Greensboro Highway, Watkinsville, or on-line here.

The following are prerequisites for individuals making application to Oconee County Fire Rescue: complete a Fire Rescue application, submit to a criminal and driver history check, complete an assessment lab to determine physical agility and knowledge, take a mandatory drug test, and complete the Firefighter I Course being offered.

Oconee Fire Rescue is considered one of the top Volunteer Fire Departments in the state of Georgia. OCFR continues to be the #1 volunteer department in fundraising for the Georgia Firefighter Burn Foundation each year, has placed 1st, 2nd, and 4th in State Firefighter Competition in recent years, and has the best ISO insurance rating for a countywide volunteer department in Georgia.

Inquiries or questions should be directed to Fire Chief Bruce Thaxton, 706-769-3975, or Deputy Fire Chief Ken Parsons, 706-310-3600.