BRANTLEY COUNTY, Ga. — Gov. Brian Kemp announced new funding Tuesday to help rural fire departments that played a critical role in battling this spring’s historic wildfires in South Georgia.
Speaking at the Nahunta Fire Department in Brantley County, Kemp announced $15,000 grants for seven fire departments in the three counties hardest hit by the fires. The funding will help departments participate in the Volunteer Fire Assistance 50/50 Grant Program and unlock matching federal dollars for equipment and resources.
The grants will go to five fire departments in Brantley County, one in Clinch County and one in Echols County. When combined with federal matching funds, the investment could total up to $105,000.
“As you all know, this spring South Georgia experienced historic wildfire activity that threatened communities, homes and livelihoods,” Kemp said. “The Highway 82 and Pineland Road fires especially had a significant impact here in Brantley, Clinch and Echols counties.”
Kemp said volunteer and rural fire departments were essential in protecting homes and communities while crews from the Georgia Forestry Commission worked to contain the fires.
The governor said donated funds collected after the wildfires are being used to help departments meet the local match requirement needed to receive federal grant money.
“Basically, when communities and fire departments have to experience fires like we have, they use every available resource they have in the county, leaving them with very little funds to do matching dollars to get this federal money,” Kemp said. “The private donations that we received have helped us remove that hurdle.”
Johnny Sabo, director of the Georgia Forestry Commission, said the funding will help departments that stood shoulder-to-shoulder with state firefighters during the crisis while also strengthening future wildfire response efforts.
“Wildfire response in Georgia is a partnership, and when those fires threaten homes and communities, our local fire departments are indispensable,” Sabo said.
He noted that many rural departments operate on limited budgets and often struggle to come up with the required local funding match.
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“The result isn’t simply assistance following disaster. It’s increased capacity for the next emergency,” Sabo said.
Chief Marty Lee, president of the Brantley County Fire Association, said firefighters faced conditions unlike anything they had ever experienced.
“This fire was something we never saw before,” Lee said. “Firefighters faced rapidly changing conditions which made them physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted, and they would not stop. They refused to give up.”
Lee said the funding will help departments purchase personal protective equipment, upgrade aging equipment, improve radio communications and replace older fire trucks.
“We really need brush trucks, chassis for old tankers, PPE and upgrades for our radio system,” Lee said.
Kemp praised firefighters, forestry workers and volunteers who responded during what he described as two of the worst wildfires in the country occurring within a short distance of each other.
“I will tell you that is the least that we can do for all that they did to help their neighbors, their friends and their local communities,” Kemp said.
The governor also said the state remains committed to helping communities recover from the wildfires and noted the state previously extended tax filing deadlines and suspended the gas tax to help residents and businesses impacted by the disasters.