Hall County citizens will soon see some changes in the branding of the county's fire services department.
The county on Friday announced a new rebranding initiative that will transform Hall County Fire Services to Hall County Fire Rescue.
"Earlier this year, the Hall County Board of Commissioners voted to increase the incentive package for Hall County paramedics, and that was the beginning of an overall culture shift within our organization, heightening the importance of emergency medical services (EMS),” Hall County Fire Chief Chris Armstrong said. “This rebranding effort was the next step in that process to make sure our public appearance reflects not only what we do but why we do what we do and who we are as a collective organization.”
Armstrong said more than 70% of all responses his department makes are for EMS services. With traditional fire calls on the decline and EMS calls on the rise, Armstrong said the inclusion of the rescue component in the name of the agency more accurately reflects its mission.
“Hall County Fire Services just didn’t reflect all of the services we provide,” he said.
Armstrong said the department’s new purpose statement - Improving lives through excellent service - more accurately signifies why members of the organization come to work each day.
“Whether it’s improving the lives of citizens or improving the lives of the people we work with, that’s our job - to really engage with people and make a difference in their lives,” he said.
Armstrong said the new name, patch and purpose statement were grassroots efforts, involving input from every level of the organization.
“A rebranding effort like this one should never come just from the fire chief but should be an inclusive process involving all of its members,” he said. “We really wanted the men and women of the department to take ownership of this process and give them a voice in the organization—that’s part of the culture change we are looking for.”
Armstrong said citizens will notice the new brand rolling out over the course of the next few months on various fire trucks and ambulances, the department’s social media pages and more.
The county released a video featuring Armstrong discussing the changes for the agency. You can view that video here.
