VIDEO: Houston County is taking important steps to ensure fire safety keeps pace with the countyโs growth.
At Tuesday nightโs county commission meeting, commissioners approved the hiring of nine new firefighters. This will allow all eight Houston County fire stations to be staffed around the clock, 24/7.
Station 8 in Perry is one of three stations that currently lack 24-hour staffing, but that will soon change. Malachi Callaway, a firefighter at Station 8, explained how the stationโs coverage was previously limited outside normal working hours.
โOn the weekends and after 5 [p.m.], we relied on volunteers to come in and grab a truck or wait for the next closest station to respond, which would expand response times,โ Callaway said.
According to Commissioner Gail Robinson, once the nine firefighters are hired, Houston County will have 45 full-time firefighters on staff, improving emergency response and safety for all residents.
Station 3 in Hawkinsville and Station 7 in Warner Robins have faced the same staffing challenges. Callaway said the change has been a long time coming and expressed relief.
