History of the Newton County Fire Service

Mid. 1960’s
Newton County Chairman and Board of Commissioners purchased a tanker and had an agreement with the City Of Covington Fire Department to respond the tanker on all fires in the county.

November 1969
The Chairman of the Board of Commissioners terminates the agreement with the Covington Fire Department and the County relocates it tanker to the County Roads department located on Stallings St. The tanker was covered by an all volunteer staff.

January 6, 1971
Newton County hires its first firefighter Thomas Barker a former Captain with the City Of Covington Fire Department to create the Newton County Fire Service.

Late 1970’s
As population grew in Newton County the fire protection became undesirable to the community and this began   the birth of the volunteer fire departments. During this time volunteer departments organized an association that could speak for the citizens to the Board of Commissioners. The committee was called the Board of Fire Masters. The fire masters along with the board of commissioners passed a tax referendum to support the community fire departments in the unincorporated areas of the Newton County.

Early 80’s  
During the early 1980’s station numbers were assigned. The numbering system was put in place and done away with the station name that was set up by geographical location. 

1987
In 1987 Newton County Fire Service appoints its first Fire Chief Thomas Barker. Newton County Fire Station 1 was located on Piper Rd in the same building with the County Road Department. Subsequently before 1988 three more firefighters were hired as a result of the lobbying from the board of fire masters. Giving a total number of six full time employees in suppression.

May 31, 1990
Steve Biggers takes his place with Newton County Fire as the Emergency Management Coordinator.

July 5, 1991
Rebie Johnson promoted as first Fire Marshal in Newton County. An administrative assistant is hired part time and soon to become full time. Each shift apparatus engineer is promoted to captain.

1994
The county made plans and started breaking ground and erected the first career station in Newton County.

October 1995
Newton County Fire Station 1 and Fire Service Headquarters opens.

January 08, 1999
Fire Chief Thomas Barker retires and the fire department has thirteen career personnel in suppression.

February 4, 1999
Rebie Johnson promoted to Fire Chief

March 1999
Captain Johnny Evans promoted to Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal. Trey Polk joins Newton County as the new EMA Director.

2000
To meet the growing demands of the county they hire fifteen firefighters and hold its first rookie school training. Also David Ledford was hired as the County’s first Training Chief.

January 24, 2001
David Ledford resigns as training chief and Hank Eller is promoted to training chief

March 15, 2001
Newton County erects and opens Station 9

July 27, 2001
Newton County erects and opens Station 14

2003
Newton County erects and opens Station 3. The current Captains positions became Battalion Chiefs. Robert Thomas was promoted to Fire Inspector.

2004
Newton County erects and opens Station 15 as administration grows apparatus engineer Scott Lester is promoted to training office. Sue Roper is hired to add second administrative assistant. Fire Marshal Johnny Evans retires and apparatus engineer Tim Smith is promoted. Newton County got its first 75 foot ladder truck.

December 2006
Mike Satterfield named fire chief.

March 7, 2007
Rebie Johnson retired as Fire Chief

July2007
Part-time firefighters hired and assigned to volunteer station 2 and 8.
9 New firefighters hired and put through a 32 week recruit class that included Firefighter I and II along with EMT bring staffing to 80 fulltime career firefighters and 12 part- time along with 50+ volunteer firefighters.

November 2007
Newton County erects and opens Station 6