Fire Chief Alexander honored on retirement

News

WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — On Monday, White County Fire Services ceremonially honored long time employees and promoted a senior employee to the rank of Chief. This week Chief Norman Alexander will retire after 15 years with White County as an employee. Chief Alexander served prior to his employment as a volunteer firefighter.

“It has been an honor to serve with Norman, a humble man with solid integrity, and professionalism. He is a good friend and I will certainly miss him being part of our team,” said David Murphy, Director of Public Safety.
Norman began his career in August of 2005 as the Assistant Fire Chief. He was promoted to Chief during the consolidation of Emergency Services in White
County.

Prior to his service in White, he retired from Hall County serving faithfully for many years. “Norman is a legend in the North Georgia Fire Service, I say that will all due respect. He is well known, has great connections, and highly respected. He serves his personnel, and leads with passion,” said Murphy.

Another long-term employee retiring is Firefighter/Admin Ana Newberry. Ana has served for seventeen years, under three Fire Chief’s. That tells you a lot about her abilities! “She is the glue that has held the department together,” states Murphy, “She certainly keeps us all in line, and makes sure we are following all requirements to keep our department in compliance and within standards.”

Ana has served in several capacities to include Public Information Officer, training, and safety officer. She has been recognized as well this week by career and volunteers throughout the county.

As the fire department continues to grow and move forward, with the foundations laid by Chief Alexander, and prior Chief’s, the selection of a new Chief was very important.

“Chief Alexander recommended to myself and the County Manager several months ago, Lt. Seth Weaver.” Says Murphy, “Seth has been with the
department since 2014 and has served in a variety of capacities. He was promoted to Assistant Chief several months ago to train directly with Chief Alexander. I’m excited about the future, and he certainly has the foundation to continue to build upon.”

Chief Weaver was ceremonially pinned as the new Chief at 2 p.m. Monday in the County EOC, with peers, family and elected officials in attendance while
maintaining our social distancing.

For more information concerning this press release contact the White County Emergency Management Agency at 706-865-9500.

Cleveland storage facility destroyed by fire

News

CLEVELAND, Ga. – Firefighters from the City of Cleveland and Lee Arrendale Fire Brigade responded to an explosion at a personal storage facility in the 400 block of Possum Trot Road Saturday (Jan. 20) at 10:30 p.m.

Ana Newberry, a firefighter with White County Fire Services, said the 60-foot by 30-foot building was unoccupied when units from Stations 2, 4 and 5 arrived but heavy smoke was visible. Newberry said the owners, who live across the street, heard the explosion, then went outside, saw smoke coming from the rear of the building and called 911

Firefighters were on the scene for approximately two and a half hours. The building sustained heavy smoke and heat damage and two firefighters suffered minor injuries. “

“Two firefighters suffered minor injuries but were treated on the scene by White County EMS,” she said via phone Tuesday.

The fire is not considered suspicious but Fire and Arson Investigators Lt. Jason Reed and Lt. Jason Davis are investigating to determine how the fire started.

 

 

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

 

White County High, Truett McConnell students, first responders simulate car crash

News

Student Tiffany Partain simulates a victim in a mock vehicle accident at White County High School Friday.

CLEVELAND, Ga. — It was just a mock vehicle accident, but hopefully the students at White County High School (WCHS) got the message, especially with prom night fast approaching.

The “accident” was staged by White County Emergency Services along with students from the high school and the nursing school at Truett McConnell University (TMU). The setting was the lower parking lot at WCHS and the entire student body was on hand to witness the event.

In introducing the accident, WCHS Principal John Osborne said, “One of the most liberating things you will ever do is to get your license. But don’t ever, ever not respect what a car can do. You are literally driving a missile and you’ve got to take that seriously.”

WCHS student Aden Stein plays the role of a drunk driver in Friday’s mock vehicle accident.

Aden Stein, played the role of a drunk driver who faces 20 years in prison for causing the accident that “killed” 17-year-old Tiffany Partain. Those injured in the wreck included TMU students Hannah Bradley, Jendra Chaverria, Priscilla Badu, Rachel Brown, Emily Drane and Morgan Harris.

White County Emergency Services employees Ana Newberry and Josh Taylor narrated the events, explaining the actions that are taken at a fatal accident scene. Sadly, their narration struck very close to home. Newberry lost her son in a car wreck and Taylor lost his younger brother.

An AirLife helicopter arrives at WCHS Friday ready to transport victims to the hospital following the mock car crash.

Throughout the event, Partain’s “lifeless” body lay on the hood of the car she was driving. First responders worked to extricate the passengers in her vechicle, TMU students Bradley, Chaverria, Badu, Harris, Brown, and Drane.

Meanwhile, a state patrol officer administered field sobriety tests to Stein before placing him in handcuffs and transporting him to jail.

Moments later, an AirLife helicopter landed to transport the injured to the hospital.

Taylor told the students looking on, “We put a lot of hard work into this. The school put a lot of hard work into this. We want everyone to learn something from this about how serious distracted driving can be.”

He talked about being on duty at the fire station the night he heard a 911 call come in about a traffic fatality. “I thought ‘Man, I hate that for somebody. They just lost a loved one,'” Taylor said. Thirty minutes later, he learned the deceased was his younger brother.

White County Emergency Services employees Ana Newberry (left) and Josh Taylor narrated Friday’s mock vehicle accident, hoping to impress on students the dangers of impaired or distracted driving.

Newberry recounted to the students the day her son was killed in a motor vehicle accident. “He over-corrected while he was reaching for the phone that I was calling him on,” she said. “I had to go to the hospital because the GSP (Georgia State Patrol) would not let me go to the vehicle. There is my son coming out of the ambulance with a sheet over him,” she said as she fought back tears. “If you don’t think that affects you as a mother. I’ll never have grandchildren. He will always be 24 to me. So that phone you’ve got in your hand, put it down!”

Hopefully, the hard work by the school, first responders and students will save someone’s life.

 

 

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach.If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

 

 

Man suffers serious burns while clearing land

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Air Life 2 helicopter arrives to transport burn victim today.

CLEVELAND, Ga. – White County Fire Services responded to a report of a burn victim today (Aug. 23) around 1 p.m. to 3216 Highway 75 South.

Firefighter Ana Newberry said the unidentified 26-year-old-male subject was clearing the property and was about to burn the brush that was cleared for his construction project.  In lighting the brush, a flashover occurred burning the man.

Newberry reports he suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns.  Fire and EMS personnel prepared the patient for transport to the landing zone on Westmoreland Road where the Air Life 2 helicopter transported him to Grady Hospital.  No other injuries were reported.

Fetch Your News will have more details as they become available.

 

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

Kitchen Fire on River Run Causes Minor Damage

Business


CLEVELAND, Ga. – Ana Newberry, spokeswoman for White County Fire Services, reported a residential fire at 425 River Forest Run Wednesday afternoon.

Newberry said upon arrival of the first fire unit, firefighters saw smoke coming from the front door of a two-story, wood frame structure. They shut off the propane to the structure while conducting a walk around. Upon entry to the home, they found that there was a small fire in the kitchen.

They set up a positive pressure ventilation fan to remove the smoke.  The fire was contained to the kitchen cabinets with little fire damage to the main floor. The structure was checked with a thermal imaging camera and all was clear.

After the fire was extinguished, fire personnel removed as much water and debris from the structure as possible. Habersham Electric Membership Coop was contacted and decided to pull the meter, cutting off power to the residents due to possible electrical dangers.

There was no one home at the time of the fire. However, the smoke alarms were operational and sounding upon arrival of firefighters. There were no injuries and the homeowner declined Red Cross assistance because he has family in the area to stay with.

It was determined that the fire started with candle that had been left unattended and ignited the kitchen cabinets.

 

 

 

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

 

 

Fall Injures Woman on Smith Creek Trail

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An unidentified woman is being airlifted by a DNR helicopter after being injured Saturday.

HELEN, Ga. – An unidentified 53-year-old female suffered a broken ankle Saturday while hiking along Smith Creek Trail in Unicoi State Park just north of Helen and had to be airlifted by a Department of Natural Resources helicopter.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources spokesman Mark McKinnon said, “Because of how rugged the terrain is we couldn’t transport her on a stretcher so we used a long line beneath a helicopter to extract her and bring her to the nearest landing zone.”

White County Public Safety Spokeswoman Ana Newberry said White County firefighters with mutual aid from the City of Helen and Lee Arrendale and White County EMS were also dispatched to provide assistance.

One firefighter received minor injuries from a fall during the rescue attempt but did not need to be transported.

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

 

 

White County EMS responded to more than 30 emergency calls over the weekend

News

CLEVELAND, Ga. – White County Emergency Services reported an extremely busy weekend.

Administrative Firefighter Ana Newberry said firefighters responded to three structure fires, 10 medical assistance calls, seven motor vehicle accidents and 18 “other” calls, including lines down, trees down and/or public assistance calls from Friday through Sunday.

At approximately 1 p.m. Friday, White County Fire Department responded to a fire at 8925 Duncan Bridge Road. Although no one is living in the home, the power was still on.  It is believed an animal chewed through some electrical wires and started the fire. There were no injuries, but the house is a total loss.

Firefighters were on a call at 660 Asbestos Road for five hours on Saturday where a fire started in the rear of the home. The family was at home at the time of the fire, but no injuries were reported.

Also on Saturday, firefighters were summoned to what was believed to be a fire at 161 Hawks Nest in Sautee. As it turned out, the house was not on fire, but live power lines were on the ground and arcing. Firefighters were on the scene for approximately two hours.

At approximately 11:30 a.m. Sunday, there was a camper fire at Jennie’s Campground on Hwy. 129 North which firefighters quickly extinguished. One occupant suffered minor smoke inhalation but did not want to be transported. No other injuries were reported. The camper is no longer livable.

 

 

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

 

 

Family Escapes House Fire Uninjured but the Home on Lakeview Lane is a Total Loss

News

CLEVELAND, Ga. – Firefighters from White County, the City of Cleveland and Lee Arrendale responded to a house fire on Lakeview Lane, west of the Cleveland city limits at about 6 a.m. today.

White County spokeswoman Ana Newberry said in an email that all occupants of the home had exited the 1700-foot structure before firefighters arrived and that flames could be seen through the roof of the structure.

The homeowner, who was not identified, told firefighters she “awoke to the smell of smoke and later heard an explosion” and quickly exited the home with her children.

The state investigator and local fire investigators were called to the scene to try and determine a cause.  The home is unlivable at this time.  Firefighters were on scene for about three hours. No injuries were reported.


Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at www.fetchyournews.com

Lightning Strikes Damage a White County Home and Barn Wednesday

News

CLEVELAND, Ga. — White County Administrative Firefighter Ana Newberry reported that lightning strikes that accompanied the heavy storms that swept through the area Wednesday caused two area fires, one to a home, the other to a barn.

At 11:39 a.m. a caller at 723 Albert Reid Road advised their barn was hit by lightning and was fully involved. White County Fire Stations 2, 5 and 6 responded along with the City of Cleveland.

The barn, which contained antique tractors and several bales of hay but no animals was a total loss but no injuries were reported. Newberry said firefighters were on the scene for 3 1/2 hours.

About an hour later, homeowners at 313 Pratton Drive advised their house had been struck by lightning. Fire Stations 2,3 and 4 were dispatched.

Upon arrival, firefighters discovered that lightning blew out the breaker panel. They removed parts of the ceiling in order to extinguish the insulation that was burning.

The electrical wiring in the home is a total loss as the lightning appears to have hit the front porch light and traveled the electrical wires, ending in the breaker panel. No injuries were reported. Firefighters were on scene for approximately 2 hours.

FIRE 2

FIRE 3

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