Page 27 - Georgia Forestry - Issue 1 - Winter 2022

During this time, we also relied on our values: integrity, respect and equality, utilizing facts to drive direction and be responsible for our success. That foundation was and is our true north. I’ve observed countless examples of our employees putting these values into practice. They take care of each other and the communities in which we live.
In Albany, in the spring of 2021, we partnered with the Department of Public Health to convert truck bays at our local office into a mass vaccination site for the surrounding area. It was rewarding to see our facility used as a conduit to good health and community service.
Out west, the summer wildfire season was declared at a preparedness level of 5. That means it had the potential to exhaust national firefighting resources. Due to the early onset and severity of the fires, the U.S. and Canada were unable to provide mutual aid as in previous years. More than 60 GFC wildland firefighters answered the call, some on multiple occasions, to combat blazes in California, Arizona, Washington, Minnesota and other western states. This
effort was recognized by Governor Brian Kemp during a video call with our hand crew, led by Ranger Troy Helms, while they were serving in Washington near the Canadian border.
100 Years of
Answering the Call
The year 2021 was notable in another important way, in that it marked GFC’s centennial. It’s been remarkable to reflect on some of the agency’s past accomplishments, its people and the key initiatives that occurred during its first 100 years. I routinely hear from previous GFC directors how fast change occurs in the agency. I’ve also learned that our agency has continuously adapted to those changes, met them head on, and always come out on the other side stronger. GFC has rightfully earned a reputation of being ready to adapt and respond when needed.
Reflecting on our history, it’s easy to see the State of Georgia places great value on the agency. The Georgia
Forestry Commission is one of the first agencies to get the call when disaster hits. Here are just a few examples to illustrate:
In 2007, the agency faced one of its most challenging wildfire seasons on record. Historic droughts and weather conditions led nearly 500,000 acres near Waycross to be consumed by wildfire. Our team worked tirelessly to protect lives, property and communities, despite the difficult conditions.
In 2018, following Hurricane Michael, more than 200 GFC employees worked for months in southwest Georgia to clear downed trees and debris from roads that provided critical access for citizens and first responders. In the months that followed, as landowners struggled to recover from this major catastrophe, GFC personnel were on hand
and on site, advising and helping landowners understand the help available to them.
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