It was 20 years ago today that the Forsyth County Fire Department hired its first paid, career firefighters as the county began moving away from a volunteer firefighter system.
“The groundwork of our Fire Department was laid by the countless volunteer firefighters who organized the department in 1972,” said Fire Chief Danny Bowman. “The addition of 30 highly motivated, 'career' firefighters in 1998, however, certainly raised the bar relative to rapid, efficient emergency services expected by our citizens."
Of the original 30 hired, whose group nickname was the ‘Dirty Thirty,’ 16 remain with the department today:
Lieutenant Zack Bazzle
Lieutenant Mark Davis
Sergeant Glen Everett
Firefighter/EMT Hal Fischer
Lieutenant Brian Gary
Battalion Chief Doug Gibson
Lieutenant David Green
Lieutenant Nathan Head
Firefighter/EMT Bob Kaley
Lieutenant Bill Logan
Firefighter II Larry Mitro
Lieutenant William Raines
Lieutenant Michael Sheuring
Division Chief Jason Shivers
Firefighter II Chris Smith
Battalion Chief Justin Suggs
“This is a huge milestone for the department,” said Shivers. “To have been a part of starting the professional era of the Forsyth County Fire Department is a true honor. The progress of the department over the past 20 years and the enhancements to the services we provide to the citizens are really remarkable. We are all so very proud to continue our service to the citizens and visitors of Forsyth County and to be the foundation that generations of firefighters to come will be built upon.”
Today, the department consists of 159 field personnel
