11 Oconee County Volunteer Firefighters Complete Training Course

By: Oconee County Fire Chief Bruce Thaxton

Oconee County Fire Rescue proudly announces the completion of 200 hours of Firefighter I  training by eleven Oconee County Volunteer Firefighters and one Oglethorpe County Firefighter.
  
The following men and women unselfishly dedicated many hours away from their families and friends to participate in this course in order to better serve their communities:

Elliott Austin - Station 4, Dark Corner
Danny Beasley - Station 1, Watkinsville
Melissa Chirello – Station 8, Barber Creek
Josh Echols – Station 2, South Oconee
Drew Grier - Station 6, North High Shoals 
Bennett Guthrie - Station 1, Watkinsville
Holden Hargrave - Station 1, Watkinsville
Chris Mobley - Station 4, Dark Corner
Lauren Rodriguez - Station 6, North High Shoals
Michael Wang – Station 7, North Oconee 
Mark Yount – Station 1, Watkinsville
Brent Griffiths – Oglethorpe County (Vesta) Fire Department

In order to become an Oconee County volunteer firefighter, all recruits had to pass a criminal background and driving history check, pass an assessment lab to ensure proper physical and mental condition, pass a drug test, and complete and pass the Firefighter I course.

The 200-hour course began January 9, 2013.  The instructor, Battalion Chief David Smith, from 

Athens-Clarke County Fire Department, held training every third night and some Saturdays through June 8, 2013.  After extensive classroom and hands-on training, the volunteers participated in a 8-hour live burn at the Athens-Clarke County Fire Training Center. The course concluded with the National Professional Qualification (NPQ) written test and the NPQ skills test administered by the Georgia Fire Academy.

Oconee County Fire Rescue is one of the few volunteer departments in Georgia requiring volunteer firefighters to be tested using the NPQ Format for firefighting.  This is the same course and test that paid departments require, and is a standard of training recognized throughout the country.