Isle of Hope Volunteer Fire Dept. fights to stay independent from Chatham County Fire

CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - “We’re a nice little independent fire department, and have been for 77 years.”

Those are the words of the Isle of Hope Volunteer Fire Department Chief, Tom Christiansen.

He, along with others at the volunteer fire department are fighting more than just fires; they’re fighting to stay in existence.

While the department has operated independently for 77 years, Chatham County leaders are trying to absorb the department into the county’s system now.

Staff there said they want to remain their own fire district.

Chief Tom Christiansen says it’s “not right or fair” for the county to dismantle a proven, cost-effective, community-focused fire service.

The county is voting on the issue officially in January.

Christiansen said he wants to ensure the public is aware so the department doesn’t just disappear quietly, and so their department won’t be liquidated.

“You don’t want it something you put a lifetime of work into just to be gone at the whim of some politician. It’s just not right. It’s not fair to our neighborhood,” said Tom Christiansen, the Isle of Hope Volunteer Fire Chief.

In 2024, after a long-running funding dispute, Chatham County created its own fire department and acquired Chatham Emergency Service’s firefighting equipment for several million dollars.

Previously, Chatham Fire charged a fire fee to residents, which was later ruled illegal.

To fund the new county fire department, Chatham County imposed a two-millage property tax increase on unincorporated areas—including Isle of Hope—despite local opposition.

Isle of Hope VFD, nor residents there-- requested county support or funding, yet the area is being included.

“I told them from the beginning, when they started all this, I said, we don’t want any involvement with the county. We don’t want their money. We’ve never asked for their money or their help, ever,” said Chief Christiansen.

The Chief has been involved with Isle of Hope VFD since 1972. His father was a founder in the 40’s.

He says nearby neighbors face 4–5x cost increases under the county’s system and an impact on responses. Christiansen says Chatham County Fire responds with 2 crew members, and typically 10-15 volunteers respond to each fire in the area.

“Where we charge a fee annually, and it’s very minimal, and we’re very frugal with the money, and we stay in the black, and we have good equipment and good volunteers. We have 27 certified firefighters and three support firefighters,” said Chief Christiansen.

These volunteer firefighters are local residents themselves who are close to their community.

Isle of Hope VFD also has an ISO Class 4 rating, placing it in the top 10% of fire departments nationwide.

District 7 Commissioner, Dean Kicklighter, said in a statement that he’s fully supporting the efforts to preserve the Isle of Hope Volunteer Fire Department.

“They’re good firefighters. They’re trained the same way all paid firefighters are. There’s a national standard that we meet; they also meet, it’s all the same thing. There’s nothing different in our training than what they’re training,” said Chief Christiansen.

The VFD has started a petition to oppose the takeover, with hundreds of signatures already collected. You can find that petition here.

Their goal is to show public support and urge Chatham County commissioners to reverse or modify the decision.

Chatham County leaders tell me this isn’t happening instantly, but it is in the process.