Page 14 - Clayton Newcomers Guide 2020

Clayton County

FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES

Setting Pace for Metro Area

by Andrew Smith

W

hen it comes to protecting
the residents in Atlanta’s
metro counties, no fire and
emergency services department
is more qualified than Clayton County’s.
For more than 50 years, Clayton County
Fire & Emergency Services (CCFES) has
been saving lives and this often unheralded
department is finally getting its due.
Led by Chief Landry Merkison, CCFES
is built to reduce risk, educate the
community, develop leaders, and even than 2 percent of fire departments in the Commission on Fire Accreditation
save taxpayers money. country and in the state of Georgia hold International in 2017. Clayton County
Thanks to CCFES, the citizens and a rating of 1. is one of seven total accredited fire
businesses of unincorporated Clayton ISO’s rating schedule evaluates the fire departments in Georgia and is one
County, along with the cities of Lovejoy, department, emergency communications, of 238 local and military accredited
Jonesboro, and Lake City, have access to agencies nationwide. The accreditation
the lowest insurance rates in the country. water supply, and community risk process utilizes a comprehensive self-
In 2016, CCFES received the Insurance reduction. The rating is critical in the assessment and quality improvement
Services Office (ISO) rating of 1 and has insurance industry and ultimately affects model to ensure organizations are
maintained that perfect rating since. ISO the pricing of property insurance. implementing industry best practices
ratings are issued on a scale of 1-10 with Adding to the department’s and ultimately providing more efficient
1 being the best level of protection and qualifications, CCFES received and effective emergency service.
10 being no formal protection. Fewer international accreditation from the
Merkison, a Clayton County native
who also serves as Director for the
county’s Emergency Management
Agency, has pushed the organization
to look beyond simply keeping the
community safe, however. Through a
variety of programs, CCFES impacts the
community in several other ways.
The Firefighter Pathway Program,
which was created in 2017, has received
accolades across the state for creating
education and career opportunities for
Clayton County students interested in
emergency services as a profession. The
program, realized with the support of
the Board of Education and the Board
of Commissioners, provides area high
school students the opportunity to
become a firefighter, full-time employee
of Clayton County, and member of

10 Clayton County Chamber of Commerce Community Guide • www.claytonchamber.org • 678-610-4021 Clayton County Chamber of Commerce Community Guide • www.claytonchamber.org • 678-610-4021