Blackshear Fire Chief Bucky Goble presented the program for last week’s Rotary Club meeting. Goble has been a firefighter for 33 years. He shared that the department consists of 31 members, including two full-time firefighters, one part-time firefighter and a dedicated team of trained volunteers. The department responds to approximately 500 calls annually, with only about 10 percent involving structure fires. The majority of calls include medical assists, vehicle crashes, hazardous materials incidents and other emergency responses. Goble emphasized the importance of maintaining the City’s ISO Class 3 rating, noting that it can significantly reduce residential and commercial insurance premiums. One local manufacturer reported saving approximately $5,000 annually after the city's ISO rating improved from a Class 4 to a Class 3 several years ago. While residential insurance savings tend to level off after reaching a Class 5 rating, maintaining a Class 3 remains especially valuable for commercial and industrial properties. To maintain and improve the rating, the department continues investing in equipment, firefighter training and water infrastructure. The city is also moving forward with a new well designed to increase water flow near the middle and high schools and strengthen the overall water distribution system. Goble also reminded club members to check their smoke alarms monthly and replace units every 10 years. Seen above are (lr) Club President Steven Stipe, BFD Chief Bucky Goble and Rotarian Blake James.
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