CFD Annual Report 2024
An annual overview of activites and performance.
2024 serves as the first full year that I served as the Fire Chief. The year was challenging at times and rewarding at others. I hope 2025 brings opportunity for the department to grow and gain momentum in becoming an industry leader in training and shining examples as a Fire Service.
As we close out 2024, the Covington Fire Department reflects on another year marked by commitment, resilience, and innovation. Our team has faced an unprecedented range of challenges, from severe weather events to structural fires and medical emergencies. Through it all, we have remained dedicated to protecting lives, property, and the community we serve.
This year has been one of growth, with substantial improvements in operational capabilities, training, community engagement, and interagency coordination. We continue to build a strong foundation for the future while maintaining a focus on the values that define us: courage, teamwork, and service.
Technology & Equipment Improvements
Use of In-House Analytics:
- Introduction of Chief Garner as our in-house Division Chief of Training and Analytics. We have been able to stop the use of 3 rd party analysis companies and only use in-house analytics. This makes it easier to obtain and understand how the department is operating and what changes can be made to improve our services to our citizens.
Challenges Faced
Despite the many successes, the department also faced several challenges in 2024:
- Increased Call Volume: The rise in emergency calls due to population growth and an overall increase in the use of public safety nationwide has strained our resources. We are actively exploring options to improve our staffing and resource allocation to handle these increases.
- Recruitment & Retention: The fire service continues to face challenges in recruiting and retaining personnel. This problem exists throughout all public safety. We are trying several different avenues to increase the volume of applicants to choose from.
Looking Ahead to 2025
In the coming year, we will continue to focus on improving our response capabilities, enhancing training opportunities, and fostering stronger community connections. Key goals for 2025 include:
- Expanding Fire Prevention Programs: We aim to reduce fire-related injuries and deaths by increasing outreach efforts to high-risk communities.
- Staffing and Recruitment: Expand recruitment efforts to ensure we have sufficient personnel to meet the growing needs of our community.
- Advanced Training Programs: Develop specialized training focused on emerging hazards, including new technologies in firefighting and disaster response.
Acknowledgements
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the members of the department for their hard work and dedication throughout the year. Additionally, thanks to our partners at Covington Police department, 911, Central EMS and Covington Utilities for their collaboration in ensuring the safety of our community. Special recognition is also due to the citizens of Covington for their continued support and trust in our services.
In Closing:
2024 has been a year of growth, challenges, and accomplishments. We are incredibly proud of our team’s efforts and the progress we’ve made in serving the community. As we move into 2025, we remain committed to our mission of providing the highest level of service and ensuring the safety of those who rely on us.
Stay safe and thank you for your ongoing support.
Joe Doss
Fire Chief
City of Covington Leadership
Covington Fire Department is an all hazards response agency that provides services to the residents, business owners, and visitors to the City of Covington.
The Covington Fire Department is currently one of only 17 accredited agencies in the State of Georgia by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. Covington Fire has been accredited since 2003.
Covington fire has an ISO rating of 2.
The City of Covington Fire Department is located 35 miles east of the state capital, Atlanta, with the major thoroughfares being Interstate 20, which runs through the city east to west and Ga. Hwy 81, which runs north and south.
The Covington Fire Department is a two station department which contains a staff of 59 personnel consisting of one civilian, and 58 full time State certified firefighters providing fire protection, advanced emergency medical services, haz-mat response, technical rescue operations, fire safety education, fire cause investigation and fire code inspections to a population of 15,000 over 16 square miles.
2024 Response Statistics
The Covington Fire department responded to 3860 calls for service in 2024
2024 Incident Response leaders
Number 1 Robert Ledford with 466
Number 2 Kevin Summerville with 444
Number 3 Chandler Head 419
Award Winners
Fire Officer of the Year Brett Madsen
Fire Apparatus Operator of the Year Ezra Griffith
Firefighter of the year Chandler Head and James Anglin
From left to right Brett Madsen, Ezra Griffith, Chandler Head, James Anglin
Battalion Chief
James Cox
Captain
Brian Moore
Lieutenant
Matthew Bruno
Kevin Smith
Fire Apparatus Operator (Sergeant)
Micah Cushing
Terry Nabors
New Hires
Full Time
Starting at Top Left: Hunter Maxson, Luke Steele, Mason Copeland, Kyle Matlock, Jonathan Nesmith, Colby Eck, Bryce Brletic, Chandler Jolley
Part Time
Starting at top left: Christopher Moss, Ky Bennett, Jonathan Robinson, Deante Pickett, Brock Boldin, Audrey Johnson, Austin Pyles
Accreditation
April Draper
Accreditation Program Coordinator April Draper, a native of Newton County began her career with the City of Covington in September 2003. She began with the city as a member of the Customer Service Department located at City Hall. In 2007, she transitioned to the City’s fire department as the Administrative Specialist. In 2011, she was promoted to her current position, Accreditation Program Coordinator. She oversees the Accreditation Process for the Department and is also a Certified Level 1 Peer Assessor through the Center for Public Safety Excellence. She has visited and served as a Peer Assessor for many fire departments throughout the United States who have been seeking Accreditation. She serves as coordinator of the Georgia Association for Fire Accreditation and Professional Credentialing. She oversees the department’s Community Risk Reduction (CRR) efforts and is a member of the Vision 20/20 Steering Committee, an organization committed to Community Risk Reduction. To increase her involvement in CRR and Public Education, she also possesses a Fire & Life Safety Educator Certification from the Georgia Public Safety Training Center. She is pursuing a Business Management degree through Troy University. She also loves to sing in the praise band at her church, and is very active in a local ladies’ Bible study group. She and her husband of 27 years, Jim, reside in Covington and have two adult children, a daughter, and a son.
Update for 2024:
After receiving a recommendation of deferral from a peer assessment team, the department worked diligently throughout 2024 to create a more effective risk assessment methodology, as well as to improve its collection method and analysis of data. As a result, the department received another peer assessment onsite in late 2024, and having met or exceeded all of the deferred items, received a recommendation for re-accreditation. The department looks forward to sitting before the Commission in the Spring of 2025.
Fire Marshals Office
Left to right, Lieutenant Wes Daniel, Deputy Chief Robert Canady, Captain Brian Thompson
The Fire Marshals Office completed a total of 1721 inspections and preplans in 2024.
The Fire Marshals Office completed 12 Fire Investigations in 2024
The Fire Marshals Office completed a total of 377:30 training hours in 2024 and was 100% ISO training compliant.
Training
The Covington Fire Department trained for a total of 13680 hours in 2024
ISO Compliance 2024
Company Training 90%
Facilities Training 96%
Hazmat Training 98%
Driver Training 100%
Officer Training 100%
New Qualifications 2024
- Firefighter 1 - 2
- Firefighter 2 - 1
- Hazmat Operations - 1
- Apparatus Operator - 7
- Instructor 1 - 4
- Fire Officer 1 - 1
- Rope Rescue 1 - 1
- Rope Rescue 2 - 2
- Rescue Tech Vehicle 1 - 1
- Structural Collapse - 2
- Trench Rescue - 2
- Hazmat Technician - 1
- Fire Investigator 1 - 2
- Fire Inspector 1 - 1
Closing the door on 2024 we look forward to the opportunities 2025 will bring.
Administrative staff from left to right: Fire Chief Joe Doss, Operations Chief Donnie Tudor, Training Chief Danny Garner, Accreditation Program Manager April Draper
A-Shift
From left to right: Austin Pyles, Micah Cushing, Josh Laster, Wesley Sparks, Daniel Spell, Billy Hutchins, Jeremy Mathis, James Anglin, Randy Ross, Joel Edwards, Mike Jones, Clay Boggs, James Cox
B-Shift
From left to right: Brian Moore, Kevin Smith, Stephen Middlebrooks, Terrance Bailey, Wes Brooks, Kyle Matlock, Matt Isom, Hampton Mizell, Luke Steele, Jeffrey Henderson, Jeffrey Crosby, Terry Nabors, Samuel Barber, Miles Miller
C-Shift
From left to right: Kevin Summerville, Chandler Head, Robert Ledford, Brock Boldin, Joey Megrue, Elijah Ingram, Kevin Whitley, Matt Bruno, Matt Davis, Alex Storz, Jonathan Nesmith, Eric Wood, John Jones, Noel Anson
