Commissioner : Homer Bryson

Director of Public Affairs : Joan Heath

44th Annual Firefighter Appreciation Day

FORSYTH, Ga. – On February 2, GDC Fire Services Marshals were deputized during the 44th Annual Firefighter Appreciation Day hosted at the State Capitol in Atlanta, Ga.   

“I am honored to be a part of today’s Appreciation Day of these brave men and women who serve to keep the citizens of Georgia safe and out of harms way,” said Commissioner Bryson. “Firefighters throughout the state of Georgia, to include our staff and inmate firefighters, should take this moment to reflect on how impactful their invaluable and commendable service is to their communities.”

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens swore in six GDC Fire Services employees on the steps of the State Capitol along with hundreds of firefighters from across the great state of Georgia. The GDC employees who were honored during this momentous day were Life Safety Compliance Officer Charles Price, Fire Services Chief Shawn Wombles, and District Fire Chiefs Glynn Pittman, Stan Garnto, Larry Brown, and Don Shugart.

GDC Fire Services operates 19 fire stations, located at state prisons, across Georgia. Fire Services employees oversee and train offenders as certified firefighters. Offenders receive certification through Georgia Standards and Training. Currently, the department has 88 offenders participating in the program and in 2015 they responded to 2,537 calls.

The GDC has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 52,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees.

For more information on the GDC call 478-992-5247 or visit https://gdc.georgia.gov.