06/14/2026
Wayne County Needs Volunteer Firefighters — Now More Than Ever!!
Wayne County, Georgia is a large, predominantly rural county covering more than 640 square miles. With a population of approximately 32,000 residents, spread across the City of Jesup and smaller municipalities such as Screven and Odum, emergency services rely heavily on volunteer fire suppression personnel to protect lives, homes, farms, and businesses 12.
Like many rural Georgia counties, Wayne County faces a growing challenge: call volume is increasing, the population is aging, and the number of active volunteer firefighters is declining. Without new volunteers, the alternative is clear—higher taxes to fund a fully paid, full‑time fire department, a cost many local families cannot afford.
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Why Volunteer Firefighters Matter in Wayne County
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), roughly two‑thirds of firefighters in the United States are volunteers, and they protect the majority of rural land area nationwide 3. NFPA data also shows that volunteer departments are essential for maintaining acceptable response times in low‑density communities.
In Wayne County, volunteer firefighters:
Provide initial fire suppression until additional resources arrive
Respond to structure fires, vehicle fires, and wildland fires
Assist with motor vehicle accidents and rescue operations
Support emergency services during severe weather and disasters
Without volunteers, response times increase, property losses rise, and insurance ratings suffer.
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ISO Ratings, Insurance Costs, and Fire Protection
The Insurance Services Office (ISO) evaluates fire protection using a Public Protection Classification (PPC) score from 1 (best) to 10 (no recognized protection). ISO ratings directly influence homeowners’ and commercial insurance premiums.
ISO places heavy weight on:
Staffing levels
Training and certification
Response capability
Proximity of firefighters to incidents
Rural areas that lack sufficient trained volunteers often receive poorer ISO scores, which leads to higher insurance costs for residents and businesses 45. Increasing the number of trained volunteer firefighters is one of the most cost‑effective ways to improve ISO outcomes without raising taxes.
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How to Become a Volunteer Firefighter in Georgia
Basic Eligibility
Under Georgia law and Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council (GFSTC) rules, volunteer firefighters must:
Be at least 18 years old
Be physically capable of performing firefighting duties
Pass a background check
Be affiliated with a recognized Georgia fire department 6
Required Training
Georgia offers one of the most accessible volunteer training systems in the country.
To serve as a Registered Volunteer Firefighter, individuals must complete:
The Basic Volunteer Firefighter Course with Live Fire (approximately 95 hours)
Live fire evolutions conducted under NFPA 1403 standards
Registration with the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council 78
Training is provided through the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) and is free for volunteer firefighters, including lodging in many cases.
Ongoing Requirements
To maintain registration:
Volunteers must complete annual in‑service training
Training must align with NFPA 1720, which governs volunteer department staffing, training, and deployment 9
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Are Volunteer Firefighters Paid?
Yes—volunteer does not mean unpaid.
In Wayne County and similar Georgia jurisdictions, volunteers are typically:
Paid per call or per response
Compensated to help offset fuel, time, and personal expenses
Provided protective equipment and training at no personal cost
While volunteers are not salaried employees, the per‑call compensation helps make service sustainable for working families.
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Benefits to the Individual Volunteer
Serving as a volunteer firefighter offers:
Professional training in fire suppression, rescue, and emergency response
Transferable skills valuable in industrial, safety, and emergency careers
Eligibility for state and national training opportunities
A strong sense of purpose, pride, and community respect
Experience that can lead to career fire service or emergency management roles
Many volunteers describe the service as one of the most meaningful commitments of their lives.
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Benefits to the Community
A strong volunteer fire service:
Keeps property taxes lower
Improves fire insurance ratings
Reduces response times
Strengthens local resilience
Keeps emergency services locally controlled
NFPA and national studies estimate that volunteer fire service saves local governments tens of billions of dollars annually nationwide 3.
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The Cost of Not Volunteering
If volunteer numbers continue to decline, Wayne County will face a difficult choice:
Accept longer response times and higher losses, or
Raise taxes significantly to hire, staff, and equip a full‑time paid department
A fully paid fire department requires:
Salaries and benefits
Retirement systems
24/7 staffing
Increased administrative overhead
For a rural county with modest household incomes, this burden would fall directly on residents.
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A Call to Serve
Wayne County does not need everyone to volunteer—but it does need more neighbors willing to step forward.
If you live or work in Wayne County and want to:
Protect your community
Learn valuable skills
Help keep taxes affordable
Make a real difference when it matters most
Now is the time to volunteer.
Contact your local fire department or city hall to learn how to start the process and become part of the team that protects Wayne County every day.
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Local Volunteer Fire Department Contact Information
Wayne County, Georgia
Wayne County Fire Rescue (Countywide Volunteer & Combination Stations)
Serves unincorporated Wayne County and supports municipal departments.
Address: 155 North Wayne Street, Jesup, GA 31546
Phone (Non‑Emergency / Administration): (912) 427‑5979
Fax: (912) 427‑5977
Website: https://www.waynecountyga.us
Fire Chief email: [email protected]
How to Volunteer: Contact Wayne County Fire Rescue or the Wayne County Emergency Management Agency to request a volunteer application and station assignment.�12
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City of Jesup Fire Department
Combination department serving the City of Jesup and parts of Wayne County.
Address: 411 West Bay Street, Jesup, GA 31545
Phone (Non‑Emergency): (912) 427‑1321
City Hall (General): (912) 427‑1313
Website: https://www.jesupga.gov/155/Fire-Department
How to Volunteer: Contact the Fire Chief’s office or visit the department website for volunteer opportunities.�345
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City of Odum Volunteer Fire Department
Volunteer department serving the City of Odum and surrounding areas.
Address: 134 South Church Street, Odum, GA 31555
Phone (Non‑Emergency): (912) 586‑2858
Odum City Hall: (912) 586‑2211
How to Volunteer: Call the Odum Fire Department or City Hall to inquire about volunteer firefighter openings and training schedules.�678
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City of Screven Volunteer Fire Department
Volunteer department protecting the City of Screven and surrounding rural areas.
Address: 305 Morgan Street, Screven, GA 31560
Phone (Non‑Emergency): (912) 579‑2211
Fax: (912) 579‑2231
Fire Email: [email protected]
How to Volunteer: Contact the Screven Fire Department or Screven City Hall for volunteer firefighter information.
https://www.investigatetv.com/2026/06/11/volunteer-firefighter-shortage-threatens-communities-nationwide/?fbclid=IwdGRjcASbtFtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeqJjl0AKhZV9pdOPUkNH4OBSi8GmvSJ5nlnvKPS8ipv42pZfE8isenhzlJ2A_aem_nVwfK8X-HmHRCDeKBunJ3w
Departments struggle to recruit as number of unpaid firefighters drops to lowest level since 1991
