New Firefighters Join Marietta

by city of Marietta

Marietta Fire Chief Jackie Gibbs welcomed nine new firefighters to the department on Nov. 15 after they graduated from training.

Bob Anderson, James Bernal, Ryan Chanley, Marcus Clifford, Richard Franklin, Austin Goode, Jacqueline Handloser, Patrick Kellam and Peter Mills will join a 24-hour shift at one of the city's six fire stations.

The recruits recently completed a 13-week basic firefighter class that certified them as a Georgia firefighter, Marietta Fire training chief Chris Whitmire said.

The recruits were trained to the National Professional Qualifications 1 certified level, a national standard for firefighter training. They also received four weeks of additional training to meet Marietta Fire Department requirements.

"Recruits without previous emergency medical technician training will complete three months of medical training in addition to basic fire training," Whitmire said.

Their training included fire ground operations, confined space, ladders, rope rescue, hazardous materials awareness, forcible entry, ventilation, vehicle extrication, salvage and overhaul, water supply and fire prevention, search and rescue, fire attack, fire behavior, CPR, building construction, physical fitness, radio communications and firefighter survival.

The recruits' training was funded by the city's 2013 operating budget, and recruits were employed and paid by the city during training. 

After completing training, the recruits participated in a fire crucible that allowed them to demonstrate all they have learned by completing eight consecutive exercises under fire ground conditions. The crucible training exercise, which was molded after the U.S. Marine Corps final training exercise, was conducted at the old Marietta Housing Authority Fort Hill site. 

Now that the new firefighters are assigned to a shift, they will spend the next several years completing driver training, emergency medical training (EMT) and learning all the streets in the city. They will also begin advanced training in hazardous materials operations and technical rescue operations.

About the Recruits

Anderson worked at Firestop Technologies of Georgia before joining the Marietta Fire Department and is trained as a Georgia Emergency Medical Technician. He lives in Marietta. 

Bernal worked at the Seymour (TN) Volunteer Fire Department before coming to Marietta. He lives in Woodstock. 

Chanley worked at UPS before joining the fire department and lives in Lilburn. 

Clifford worked at the Annapolis (MD) Fire Department before coming to Marietta. He lives in Marietta.

Franklin worked at the South Georgia Medical Center before coming to Marietta and is trained as a Georgia paramedic. He lives in Hiram.

Goode worked at Dawson County Emergency Services before joining the fire department and is trained as a Georgia firefighter and paramedic. He lives in Dawsonville.

Handloser worked at the Eastpoint (MI) Fire Department before coming to Marietta and was trained as a Michigan firefighter and paramedic. She lives in Marietta.

Kellam worked at Industrial Emergency Services, LLC before joining the fire department and is trained as a Georgia EMT. He lives in Chattanooga.

Mills worked at Atlanta Motor World before coming to Marietta and lives in Cumming.