Greene County Fire Rescue is hoping that 2025 turns out to be a better year than the last.
The GCFR family lost beloved Battalion Chief Chris Eddy last year, and just before the calendar turned to 2025, two firefighters were injured in an accident.
According to a press release from Greene County, “one of Greene County Fire Rescue’s staffed engines was involved in a single-vehicle accident on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, 2024, while responding to a report of a woods fire.
“There were two firefighters on the engine when the accident occurred. The driver sustained serious injuries, requiring transport to a trauma center by air ambulance. The passenger firefighter was transported to the local hospital for evaluation and released. Georgia State Patrol is investigating the accident.”
Engine 12 sustained serious damage to its front section and some damage to its left side.
Joe Bashore, the director of Greene County’s emergency management agency director, said that due to the nature of the investigation, some of the details are not being released at this time, but a follow-up press release is pending.
The firefighter most seriously hurt in the accident was Blake Stinnett, who is also a local youth pastor, husband, father, and the founder of Next Rung, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping combat mental health issues among firefighters and first responders.
Stinnett had to undergo multiple surgeries after he was taken to the hospital, including a five-hour procedure to repair a broken leg and another to fix his elbow. Still, according to social media, he has made it through the procedures with flying colors.