Rodney Wiggins’ desire to be a career firefighter has been a goal of the new Greene County Fire Chief from his early years growing up in Jonesboro.
Both Wiggins’ grandfather and father were firefighters in Georgia. In 1948, his grandfather established Jonesboro’s volunteer department. His father eventually went on to become fire chief when the department was established in Jonesboro.
Wiggins never went off course with his aspirations, and he claims it was all he ever wanted to do. He is now fire chief of a county that covers more than 406 square miles in the state.
Wiggins, 46, takes command of a new department for a county previously served only by volunteer units. It is now a fully functioning department with 28 full-time and 20 part-time personnel, including Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff, that are dispatched from five county stations, each headed with a battalion chief. Scheduled shifts are 24 hours on and 48 hours off.
Each of the five stations houses an engine company staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with two certified firefighters to each engine. Three of the stations are shared with Greene County EMS and an advanced life support ambulance. Each station also houses Emergency Management Agency resources.
“I am so impressed with the exceptional work the county has done with the department,” Wiggins said. “Starting a department is expensive. The county has done it right with providing top-of-the-line fire engines, supporting equipment and tools. Our firefighters and EMS personnel are highly trained, competent and professionals in their field.”
Community outreach is important to Wiggins’ agenda as is getting to know the city and county he serves.
On the job just four days, Wiggins has been busy visiting with new staff and making the rounds among the stations. He has been impressed with everything he’s seen and is looking forward to working with the community to expand fire safety knowledge.
Greene County’s response to any emergency call will receive three county emergency fire trucks and at least two volunteer fire trucks from the nearest volunteer stations.
“This is very unique to this county,” he said. “The response to emergency calls has been terrific, and our volunteer base is to be commended.”
Wiggins has seen the volatile nature of fire as construction materials have changed over the years.
What once was used for wood construction is now synthetic, posing potential safety hazards to both end users and firefighters. Hazardous materials make firefighting even more dangerous and exacerbate problems associated with combating fire emergencies.
Wiggins has served in six fire departments throughout his career and held all ranks from firefighter to deputy chief. He comes to Greene County most recently serving as shift commander for Meriwether County Fire Rescue. He has been awarded numerous national and state certifications and is a Credentialed Fire Chief through the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs. He is also a national- and state-certified paramedic.
Wiggins, his wife Julie and two children, Macie and Colby, will be relocating to the county from Sienna.