fire department

Maxeys leadership includes (from left) city council members Carrie Hayes, Carrie Hyatt, Danny Gorman, Mayor Edward Toledano, Shirley Callahan, Doug Miller and city clerk Jenny Yearwood-Parker. The city is adding online bill pay for water bills next month. (Photo/Ansley Gavlak)

Maxeys leadership includes (from left) city council members Carrie Hayes, Carrie Hyatt, Danny Gorman, Mayor Edward Toledano, Shirley Callahan, Doug Miller and city clerk Jenny Yearwood-Parker. The city is adding online bill pay for water bills next month. (Photo/Ansley Gavlak)

Lexington denied for rural zone designation

Ansley Gavlak
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Lexington wasn’t one of the seven cities selected for rural zone designation. The Northeast Georgia Regional Commission reviewed and submitted the application on the city’s behalf.
The garage doors sit open at Salem Fire and Rescue's main station in Lexington, Georgia, on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. An expansion to the station was completed in October 2024. (Katherine Davis/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The garage doors sit open at Salem Fire and Rescue's main station in Lexington, Georgia, on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. An expansion to the station was completed in October 2024. (Katherine Davis/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Expanded station should meet Salem’s needs for ‘30 years’

Katherine Davis
Thursday, September 18, 2025
Salem Fire and Rescue is using a 4,000-square-foot expansion to more effectively respond to emergencies and lower insurance in its response area. The primary fire station on Davids Road, originally constructed in 1988, was built to hold only two fire trucks. Most recently, it housed three.
Arnoldsville City Councilman Danny Sniff (left) gestures toward Mayor Pro Tem Danny Morcom (far right) at the Arnoldsville meet and greet last Friday at No. 3 Railroad Street. Both men are running for mayor, but have shown respect and goodwill toward each other. “Am I endorsing Danny?” Sniff said. “To some degree, yes.” (photo/ Elena Acosta)

Arnoldsville City Councilman Danny Sniff (left) gestures toward Mayor Pro Tem Danny Morcom (far right) at the Arnoldsville meet and greet last Friday at No. 3 Railroad Street. Both men are running for mayor, but have shown respect and goodwill toward each other. “Am I endorsing Danny?” Sniff said. “To some degree, yes.” (photo/ Elena Acosta)

Arnoldsville, county leaders make most of meet and greet

Elena Acosta
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
    As Katherine Ratcliffe and Babs DeArmond of the Oglethorpe County Library walked into No. 3 Railroad Street last week, they received a unique welcome from the owner, Mary Nouri.    “Y’all are just in time for the catastrophe!
Robert and Lani Kline hold signs on Highway 78 to let folks know about the Wesley Chapel Volunteer Fire Department’s car wash fundraiser at Lexington Auto Parts last Saturday. The donations help the department purchase and maintain its equipment. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Robert and Lani Kline hold signs on Highway 78 to let folks know about the Wesley Chapel Volunteer Fire Department’s car wash fundraiser at Lexington Auto Parts last Saturday. The donations help the department purchase and maintain its equipment. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Wesley Chapel firefighters put water to different use

Avni Trivedi
Thursday, August 3, 2023
Robert Kline, dressed in full firefighter gear, holds a “Car Wash” sign above his head standing on the side of Athens Road.
Community donations helped the Devil’s Pond Volunteer Fire Department purchase a JAWS Combi Tool last year. The tool is used to help free accident victims from vehicles. (ELOISE MCNAIR/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Community donations helped the Devil’s Pond Volunteer Fire Department purchase a JAWS Combi Tool last year. The tool is used to help free accident victims from vehicles. (ELOISE MCNAIR/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

County fire departments prioritize new equipment

Julianne Akers
Thursday, August 3, 2023
Equipment used by fire departments goes through extensive wear and tear, which has become an issue at several Oglethorpe County volunteer fire departments.    “Anything within the fire service has a lifespan,” said Cody Gibbs, assistant chief of the Beaverdam Volunteer Fire Department.
Cody Gibbs works nights and week- ends for Oglethorpe County Emergen- cy Medical Services, in addition to his full-time job (JULIANNA RUSS/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Cody Gibbs works nights and week- ends for Oglethorpe County Emergen- cy Medical Services, in addition to his full-time job (JULIANNA RUSS/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Behind the badge: Cody Gibbs shows commitment in times of tragedy, stress

Julianna Duennes Russ and Noor Abdallah
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Cody Gibbs responds to emergency calls at the Beaverdam Volunteer Fire Department almost daily. But no amount of first-response experience can prepare someone for a call like the one Gibbs received on April 3.
Firefighters learned how to remove the doors and windshield off of a car using hydraulic cutting tools. (Photo Courtesy/Jennifer King)

Firefighters learned how to remove the doors and windshield off of a car using hydraulic cutting tools. (Photo Courtesy/Jennifer King)

Vesta among departments to undergo rescue training

Ashley Balsavias
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Firefighters from departments in Vesta, Arnoldsville and Winterville recently attended a vehicle extrication class, where they learned how to use hydraulic tools to tear the doors off of a car, break its windows and cut out the windshield.
Firefighters place numbered stickers on large pads of paper to indicate their station's priorities during a meeting in the Oglethorpe County courthouse in Lexington, Georgia, on Monday, Oct. 17. (Emily Garcia/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Firefighters place numbered stickers on large pads of paper to indicate their station's priorities during a meeting in the Oglethorpe County courthouse in Lexington, Georgia, on Monday, Oct. 17. (Emily Garcia/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Small steps for fire stations

Emily Garcia
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Jehu Post, Beaverdam’s fire chief, isn’t sure he’d call the planning meeting between fire stations on Oct. 17 a unity meeting, but then again, he might.    “If we (stations) all fall underneath the strategic plan, then we're all working on the same page.
(Graphic/Caitlin Farmer)

(Graphic/Caitlin Farmer)

County fire departments are separate, yet work together

Caitlin Farmer
Thursday, September 22, 2022
When fire departments across the county began consolidating to form Oglethorpe County Fire Rescue, the Arnoldsville Fire Department opted not to join.   The decision was made to save residents from paying more on their homeowners premium and maintain a faster response time, chief Heath Baker said.