A new Polk County fire station is serving as both a modern emergency response facility and a lasting tribute to generations of firefighters who dedicated themselves to protecting their communities.
The project was made possible through SPLOST dollars and brings together the legacies of two longtime volunteer fire departments — Blooming Grove Station 1 and Esom Hill Station 8. Both departments were established in the early 1970s and now continue their service together under one roof.
The new station represents Polk County Fire-Rescue’s ongoing commitment to protecting the lives, property and well-being of residents throughout the county.
Officials said the facility also recognizes the men and women whose courage, sacrifice and dedication helped build the foundation of fire protection in Polk County.
The project honors the founding members of both departments, whose vision and leadership helped shape the fire-rescue system that serves the county today. It also pays tribute to the volunteer firefighters who answered calls for help over the decades, often sacrificing their own time and safety to serve others.
The families of those firefighters and community members who supported their efforts are also recognized as an important part of that legacy.
“Though these departments now serve together under one roof, the heritage they built through decades of courage, sacrifice and selfless service will forever be remembered,” officials said.
The station is intended to serve as a reminder of the traditions upon which Polk County Fire-Rescue was built while providing a modern home for firefighters as they continue serving future generations.
The founding members honored from Blooming Grove Station 1 are Chief Hal Matthews, Assistant Chief Thomas Wray, Dennis Blankenship, Robert Dempsey, Don Dyer, Homer Hackney, Troy Hackney, Delos McBride, Roy Merritt, Jack Prewett and Larry Swafford.
The founding members honored from Esom Hill Station 8 are Chief Ray Taylor, Assistant Chief Tim Jones, Dewey Forrister, Robert Furr Sr., David Jones, Pam Jones, David McClarty, Melissa Taylor, Charles Wheeler and Don Wheeler.
The new station stands as a symbol of the department’s past, present and future — honoring those who answered the call decades ago while providing a facility from which today’s firefighters can continue that tradition of service.
