WHO WE ARE
Fire protection in Jackson County is provided by both paid and volunteer fire departments divided into eleven districts. North Jackson Fire District is governed by an elected Board of Directors who set the budget and millage rate for the district. The Fire Chief is responsible for the day to day operation of the Department. The North Jackson Fire District covers 37.5 square miles – bordered by Hall County, Plainview Fire District, West Jackson Fire District, Jackson Trail Fire District, and Jefferson Fire District.
The North Jackson Fire Department motto is “Neighbor helping neighbor.” Because we are a volunteer fire department, the North Jackson Fire District Board is able to have the lowest millage rate in the county, with a PPC rating equal to the highest rated department in the county, PPC 3.
PPC RATING
The North Jackson Fire District has an ISO Public Protection Classification (PPC) of 3. This classification is a numerical grade for Fire Department fire prevention and fire suppression capabilities combined with emergency communication, water supply, and community risk reduction activities. The classes range from 10, the area’s fire suppression program does not meet minimums, to 1, a superior level of fire suppression. Insurers use PPC as a factor in determining what to charge for coverage. All things equal, a home in an area with PPC 3 coverage will have lower premiums than the same home in an area with PPC 9 coverage.
HISTORY
In 1973, Smith Bridges, Claude Pardue, Jerry Fletcher, Frank Davis and others saw the need for a fire department in the North Jackson area and started the North Jackson Fire Department. In the beginning, they operated two engines and funding in the early days was raised by BBQ suppers, ham and egg suppers, a reverse raffle for a Cadillac, and wrestling matches.
Today, the Department is made up of 24 men and women from all walks of life, including administrators, farmers, retirees, bus drivers, civil engineers, airline pilots, and professional firefighters and paramedics. Today the Fire Department operates nine fire and rescue apparatus out of three stations in Pendergrass, Talmo, and the Fairview community. Department apparatus includes a ladder truck, a 3,000 gallon tanker, a brush truck, a rescue vehicle, and five engines.