Fire Department Descriptions

Fire Administration

Under the direction of the Fire Chief, the Administrative Division of the Albany Fire Department, as required by the City Charter and Code of the City Ordinances, directs the everyday operations of the department. This includes administration, personnel management, maintenance, repair, purchasing, receiving, supply, safety, and fiscal affairs management.

Fire Operations

The Operations Division performs the very visible function of fire suppression, rescue, and related services within the City of Albany and the rest of the County as provided for by contract. The mandates for these functions are outlined in the provisions of the City Charter, the Code of City Ordinances, and OCGA, Title 25-12. These duties are accomplished from eleven fire stations, utilizing 160 assigned personnel.

Fire Training

This division provides planned course content and direction for the on-going study of fire fighting responsibilities. The responsibility of training recruits for firefighting, rescue functions, and other related tasks, as well as providing direction for increased skills and abilities through knowledge for suppression personnel, is assigned to the Training Division. Testing, evaluating, and recommending all new hires and promotions within the department. Records and reports on all department training activities.

Fire Prevention

This division has the overall responsibility for administering/conducting annual fire safety compliance inspections in each business in Albany/Dougherty County; additionally, its personnel performs all fire/life safety compliance inspections on new business licensing, new construction and renovations, to include plans review of all new construction. The division is responsible for investigating all fires of suspicious, incendiary or undetermined fires with a high dollar loss or fatality. Division personnel are also responsible for fire safety education to all the citizens of Albany/Dougherty County.

Emergency Management

The Emergency Management Division is responsible for developing, continuously reviewing, and updating plans designed to ensure the continuity of local government before and during times of high stress, emergencies, or disasters. This responsibility includes (without limitation): the necessary coordination, training, resources, and guidelines needed to enable the city and county departments, volunteers, or other agencies to operate as a total organization during periods of high stress or emergency/disaster situations and support such operations with manpower, supplies, and equipment as economically as possible.