Fulton Fire Chief Martin sets goal, strives for department’s ‘obligation of excellence’

Benita Fuzzell

While the Fulton Fire Department is staffed with a large group of volunteers who are only paid when a call is answered, and many also hold down full-time jobs to support their families, Chief Jeremy Martin does not see the “volunteer” status as a reason to accept a minimum standard when it comes to public service.

“If you dial 911, it doesn’t matter if the responder is paid, paid on call, or volunteer, our customers want someone who is trained at the highest level and professional,” Chief Martin said.

“We have an obligation to be excellent,” he said, during a recent interview, just before marking the completion of his second month at the helm of the department.

Chief Martin believed he found the ideal environment, in the northern portion of the Twin Cities community, when he accepted the position of Fire Chief.

He was drawn toward the small town atmosphere, where he saw potential for the fire department to have a greater impact on young and old alike, with the ability to reach out to the community through throwing open the bay doors, and making sure each piece of equipment is frequently seen and utilized. And, not just for fire fighting.

The veteran firefighter, who began his career in Indiana in 1986, is determined to project an image of authentic partnership, working alongside other departments as well as community leaders, with aspirations of local young men and women joining the ranks of the Fulton Fire Department.

“Education is my cornerstone. Due to the use of increasingly sophisticated equipment and the need to assume a wider range of responsibilities, during my assessment of the department, I saw the need for our firefighters to either recertify or certify in CPR. On July 25, with the help of our partners from Ken-Tenn EMS, our entire department has now been CPR certified. Currently we have training in a variety of topics from incident command to cancer research scheduled through January 2023,” Chief Martin said.

He has been in contact on an ongoing basis with the Kentucky Fire Commission, and other entities, to bring national and state required courses to FFD.

“Not only do they have all the resources to hone our skills, but it also gives us the opportunity to learn, socialize, with firefighters, instructors, and fire service leaders from across the country. I believe it is sure to yield valuable insights and understanding as well as new friendships and contacts. It is important current and future firefighters of FFD make a commitment to lifelong learning in the fire service,” he said.

As the scope of the fire service changes, so too must the service’s level of training and knowledge. Chief Martin sees a value to classroom training, however his perception is to extend the learning environment for firefighters beyond the walls of a classroom.

“I would like to acquire vacant structures. This can prove invaluable in the reinforcement of practical training,” he said, in reference to hands-on experience.

Martin said he would like to move forward in providing developmental opportunities that enhance knowledge, skills, and the organization as a whole. Within the organization, he would want to foster an atmosphere which values diversity, as well as growth opportunities for those currently in the department, as well as the future firefighters to be recruited.

“I want to afford our firefighters and the organization with the tools to respond effectively to our customers’ needs as well as current and future demands for emergency services. I also want to make sure those who might have an interest in joining with us, understand, there are so many duties for which we need individuals who may not necessarily want to fight fires. We can always find anyone something to do. We need people with organizational skills to manage and maintain turnout gear. We need people with administrative skills. We need anyone who finds themselves interested in this line of work, in this career, to just come in and let us show you what we have here,” Martin said.

Firefighter recruitment, to Martin, will mean attracting and inviting people to consider involvement within FFD.

“As Fire Chief I believe one step for recruitment is planning and design. To do this, I have spent time learning more about FFD from the inside as well as how FFD is perceived by the community and public at large. Diversity is an essential element in my recruitment plan. I believe FFD will be more effective if our department reflects the

community. Because there is not a lot of activities for the youth in this area, a strategic outreach to the youth is important. Everyone has something to offer, and youth organizations may be in an ideal position to bring out the best in those who may have a great future in FFD,” he said.

Other goals in mind for the new Chief are to facilitate the Incident Command System (ICS) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS), for training and implementation.

The Fulton Fire Department currently has 10 members, however, Martin agreed he realizes one of the primary goals of the Department is to still continue to provide quality service to the citizens of Fulton and other communities.

Since taking command, an Automatic Assistance agreement with Union City, Tenn. has been reached and currently, the department is waiting for the document’ review by the Fulton City Commission.

Once approved, that document will be forwarded to Kentucky’s state level for approval.

As is the case in many circumstances, issues and difficulties do not happen overnight, nor do the resolutions to those problems occur in a short span of time.

Martin said he understands building back and fostering positive relationships with other fire departments in Kentucky and Tennessee will take time.
“Since I have been here, we have had numerous jobs, where a few of our partners have responded to these incidents or provided coverage and manpower at Fulton Fire Department, while we provided emergency services elsewhere. Putting these auto assistance agreements into play will also help improve the fire department’s ISO score. In return, that will help insurance premiums remain at a lower rate for the citizens of Fulton,” Chief Martin said.

For more information about the Fulton Fire Department, or to inquire about options for serving within the department, contact the Fulton Fire Department.