THOMASVILLE —
Even though he spends most of his days confined to Thomas County Prison, Josh Anderson’s future has no restraints. He is learning skills that will enable him to have a future much brighter than his past.
Anderson and seven other inmates are certified firefighters who respond to structure fires in Thomas County.
“It’s a very beneficial program for someone in my position,” said Anderson, who eyes a career in firefighting after he completes his sentence. “I’ve been doing it for six years. It’s about teaching the new guys now.”
The first inmate fire team was established in Georgia in 1963. Robert Geer, Thomas County Prison warden, and Chris Jones, Thomas County fire chief, decided to start one here eight years ago.
Sunset Fire Station 1 at the prison is the largest manned station in the county. It saves county taxpayers $480,000 per year.
Georgia has 18 fire station facilities in state prisons, but there are only four county camps.
See Saturday's edition for more details.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Josh Anderson dons his firefighting gear at Sunset Fire Station 1 on Friday. See addition photos, page 2A. Natalie Fultz/Times-Enterprise
January 18, 2013
'Cream of the crop'
- Local News
-
-
Coaches, pastors set to share strategies for discipleship
- 'Bold' masked gunmen leave store empty-handed
- County buildings meet most ADA requirements
-
SWGTC pins largest class of ASN students
-
How to get the most out of your air conditioner this summer
Experts say preventative maintenance on your air conditioner can save you hundreds of dollars.
- Love earns veterinary degree from University of Georgia
- NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet set Saturday
-
Tornadoes tear through East Texas; 6 people killed
A pack of tornadoes killed at least six people and injured dozens more in East Texas Wednesday night.
-
Millersville players help couple resuscitate ailing child
The Millersville University baseball team came up with a great save this week, but it had nothing to do with the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference tournament being played at Point Stadium.
-
'Ghost ship' offered to highest bidder
The mysterious death of the owner of a sailboat, found without anyone on board last fall, has not deterred the coastal city of Newburyport, Mass., from offering the sloop for sale on a municipal auctiion website.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
