Thomas County Fire/Rescue budget tops $2M

November 19, 2009

Patti Dozier The Times Enterprise Thu Nov 19, 2009, 06:36 PM EST

THOMASVILLE — Thomas County Fire/Rescue’s proposed budget is $2.1 million for 2010, the agency’s third year of operation.

The amount, which will be considered by Thomas County commissioners for adoption next month, is for personnel and operations, said Mike Stephenson, county manager.

The agency has six fire stations with paid staff and a dozen stations served by volunteer firefighters.

Ochlocknee, Coolidge, Boston, Northside, Remington and Southside fire stations have paid staff.

Thomasville Fire/Rescue employs 40 firefighters. Some paid county firefighters also are emergency medical technicians.

The number of volunteer firefighters was not available.

For more than 40 years, Thomas County government contracted with the City of Thomasville for fire protection services in the county’s fire districts 1 and 2.

County government was paying the city between $750,000 and $800,000 annually when it opted not to renew the contract. County officials said the arrangement had become too costly.

“We said we could do it for about the same cost, maintain the ISO (Insurance Services Office) rating, and we added a station, Northside,” Stephenson said.

The ISO rating for fire districts 1 and 2, now known as the Central Fire District, has been maintained, the county manager said.

The ISO rating was improved in Fire District 3 and in Ochlocknee, said Chris Jones, fire chief.

Fire insurance rates dropped in Fire District 3 and Ochlocknee as a result of improved ISO ratings, Stephenson explained.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820.

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