Union County Fire Department Graduates Recruit Class 108 as New Georgia Certified Firefighters

Photo from the Union County Fire/Rescue Facebook page.

Blairsville, Ga. – A dedicated group of volunteers has completed Union County Fire Department’s (UCFD) rigorous Recruit Class 108, earning certification as Georgia Certified Firefighters and strengthening the department’s ranks at a time when more volunteers are urgently needed.

The recruits finished their training and passed all required testing on Saturday, May 9, according to a UCFD announcement. The class represents months of intensive preparation to serve the community in one of its most demanding roles.

Volunteer firefighters in Union County begin at the support firefighter level after completing an approximately 40-hour introductory course focused on safe and efficient operations on the fireground. Those who wish to engage in active fire suppression—entering burning buildings to combat fires—must then advance through the full recruit class.

Recruit Class 108 demanded roughly 250 hours of combined classroom instruction and hands-on training. Participants learned critical skills including fireground operations, fire extinguishment techniques, rescue operations, and basic hazardous materials response. The program ran from January through May, with classes held two nights per week and every other Saturday.

The culminating evaluations included a written exam and multiple practical skills tests. The centerpiece was a series of live-fire scenarios designed to mirror real residential structure fires. Recruits entered a burn building to perform fire attacks under conditions replicating actual emergencies: intense heat, thick smoke, limited visibility, loud sounds, and disorienting environments. They fought fires at ground level, above ground, and below ground, using proper techniques to extinguish flames while being evaluated by instructors.

“Although the recruits are being evaluated, they are gaining valuable knowledge and experience that will assist them when they respond to an actual emergency,” the department noted. Instructors worked to create authentic training conditions to better prepare the new firefighters for the challenges they will face.

UCFD praised the graduates for their hard work, commitment, and willingness to sacrifice personal time to serve their neighbors. “We are very proud of the volunteer firefighters who put forth the effort and sacrifice to become firefighters and to serve their community,” the post stated.

Volunteer firefighting remains one of the most challenging yet rewarding ways to contribute locally, especially as the department continues to seek additional volunteers to meet community needs. Those interested in joining can find more information through Union County Fire and Rescue.

The successful completion of Recruit Class 108 adds capable new responders to the team, enhancing Union County’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities.