In the Sept/Oct edition of Georgia’s Cities, we spotlighted the essential role of public safety in ensuring the well-being of cities throughout the state. GC talked with Camilla Fire Chief Jamie Sullivan to discuss strategies for emergency preparedness, fire safety, youth engagement, and integrating technology in public safety. With a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to community service, Chief Sullivan offers valuable insights into how municipalities can collaborate to create safer, more resilient cities.
GC: How does the Camilla Fire Department (CFD) approach emergency preparedness and response in Camilla, particularly given the unique challenges of being a smaller city?
CS: In this post-9/11 pandemic world, the fire service has proven its adaptability, evolving into a true all-hazards response organization. Despite limited personnel and resources in a small community, our team members have become multi-faceted first responders. Our focus on fire safety and fire suppression remains unwavering. However, we have expanded our roles, adding new skill sets to meet the challenges of the changing infrastructure and the well-being of the people we serve. For instance, who would have thought that being prepared to administer Naloxone or applying a tourniquet in an active shooter incident would become a normal part of our day, alongside inspecting a fire hydrant?
GC: Can you share a recent example where your preparedness efforts made a significant difference?
CS: With an all-hazards approach, our team utilizes the Incident Command System and other Emergency Management principles to provide all city departments with command and control of disaster response. Most people do not think hurricanes are a risk in Southwest Georgia, which is so far away from the Georgia coast. However, Hurricane Michael proved that risk was high in our area. Our team provided the Incident Command Post and many of the Emergency Service Functions for the City of Camilla’s recovery efforts out of our fire station.
GC: What strategies does CFD use to promote fire safety and prevention among residents, and how do you tailor these efforts to your city’s specific needs?
CS: Community engagement is at the forefront of our operations. We do not hide behind closed doors; we actively reach out to the schools, Boys and Girls Club, churches, and Senior Living facilities. We participate in Read-A-Book programs in the lower schools and provide the Fire Extinguisher Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep (PASS) class for the upper schools. We inspect and install smoke alarms for homes and apartments, teach cooking fire safety tips to groups, and provide safety programs for our Community Civic organizations. Our commitment to community is at the heart of everything we do and is crucial to our success.
GC: Are there any programs or activities that have been particularly successful in fostering youth involvement?
CS: One of our most successful fire prevention initiatives is cooking fire safety door hangers. According to the National Fire Administration, cooking fires are the number one cause of structure fires in America and our community. After a kitchen fire incident, we canvass the neighborhood and distribute a door hanger that lists cooking safety tips while the incident is fresh in everyone’s mind.
GC: Youth engagement is crucial for the future of public safety. How does CFD involve young people in fire safety and public safety education in your community?
CS: We [CFD] contact the schools and Boys and Girls Clubs for safety programs. We host the area’s Pre K-4 schools during Fire Prevention Week for a fire station tour and safety visit every October. We also work with our Police Department and provide a safety book for all 4th graders in the county and regularly attend sporting events to show our support and commitment to the community.
GC: How does CFD integrate technology to enhance public safety in Camilla?
CS: Technology is used to advance our response protocols and increase safety for our firefighting teams. From the heads-up display in the Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) mask, voice amplification from the SCBA mask, to the mission-critical public safety remote shoulder microphone connected to the Southwest Georgia Regional Radio Network 800 MHz-P-25 trunked two-way radios, we also use tablets and GIS mapping through Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) form the E-911 center to make our incidents safer and response times more efficient.
GC: What specific technologies have been most beneficial, and how have they improved your operations?
CS: Using a record management system (RMS) with tablets on each fire apparatus has been most beneficial in advancing our pre-incident surveys of commercial buildings. The data is at the responding firefighters’ fingertips through the tables, allowing targeted hazards and utility control points to be quickly identified. This ability to maintain current records through an RMS program has also lowered the City of Camilla’s ISO score. We are less than one point from being a Class Two city.
GC: Collaboration is key in public safety. How does CFD work with other local agencies, organizations, or neighboring towns to enhance a coordinated and effective public safety response?
CS: Collaboration is a must in today’s world of possible complex incidents and short-staffed departments. As a member of the Georgia Mutual Aid Group (GMAG), the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs, the Georgia State Firefighters Association, and our local Southwest Georgia Fire Chiefs Association, I find that networking is vital to success through these organizations. Knowing the other department managers and the capabilities of their resources is essential when planning an incident response. The middle of an incident is not the time to figure out who your neighbors are and what resources they can provide. Collaboration is essential in working with our neighbors and allied state agencies throughout the year to serve our communities with proactive emergency response.
GC: Can you share an example of a successful collaborative effort?
CS: Recently, during one of our hurricane events, the City of Valdosta received considerable damage. Once the winds had passed Camilla and we sounded the all-clear, Camilla Fire Department and Lee County Fire responded to Valdosta to fulfill a GMAG resource request. Through collaboration and being a member of the fire service organization, I knew the Valdosta Fire Chief and had his contact information on my cell phone. While traveling to Valdosta, I contacted the Chief and received an assignment for our Chainsaw Strike Team. Within a couple of hours of receiving the request, our team was on the scene, cutting a path from the west side of Valdosta to the hospital. This relationship through networking is the survival of our small public safety response agencies in rural Georgia.
I encourage all city leaders and public safety managers to join or update their GMAG membership. Membership is free, but a resolution by the city council is required.
As Georgia’s Cities conversation with Chief Jamie Sullivan reveals, public safety is a multifaceted challenge that requires a proactive and collaborative approach. By prioritizing emergency preparedness, fire safety education, youth engagement, and technology integration, Camilla is setting an example for municipalities across the state. Our cities can become safer and more resilient for all residents through continued dedication and innovation.