Johnson Appointed Treutlen County/Soperton Fire Chief
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The City of Soperton and Treutlen County officials have announced the appointment of John Johnson as the area’s new Fire Chief. This appointment is effective immediately, and is said to reflect the city's and county's commitment to enhancing public safety and community service.
Johnson has over 35 years of experience in fire service, as he first began working in the field when he joined the Soperton Volunteer Fire Department in September 1988. His passion for serving the community continued to grow through his years within the Department, and continued after Johnson moved to Milledgeville, where he served on the Baldwin County Fire Department.
While in Milledgeville, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Public Safety Administration from Georgia College and State University, leading him to become a full-time firefighter with the Baldwin County Fire Department in 1992. Johnson spent several years with the Department, and even climbed to the rank of “Apparatus Operator” while serving with this team.
Johnson also utilized his knowledge of fire service and fire safety as the Southeastern Region Arson and Hazardous Materials Compliance Officer for the Georgia State Fire Marshal’s continued from page
Office when he returned to Soperton after obtaining his degree. He also continued to volunteer his expertise in fire service, as he worked with the Soperton Fire Department while also serving as this compliance officer.
When Johnson was transferred to the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, he continued to serve as both a firefighter and an instructor, as he volunteered his fire service at the Monroe County Emergency Services Department and excelled as a GPSTC Staff Instructor. As an instructor, Johnson taught both basic firefighter and live fire training classes, and achieved Manager Status for both programs.
He continued to excel in his career, as he soon became a Fire Service Program Manager, where he oversaw firefighter state and national certifications for the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council.
Johnson also worked in the private sector of the field, as he served as a Field Representative for the Insurance Services Organization. In this position, he evaluated over 500 fire departments to determine their public protection classification, which affects the surrounding area’s home insurance rates. In addition to this, he worked as the Health and Safety Manager for large industrial facilities, as he instructed employees on Life Safety training in compliance with OSHA regulations across the nation.
In recent years, Johnson has returned to his roots, moving back to Soperton and rejoining the local volunteer fire department, and now, serving as the Fire Chief. 'I am honored to serve as Fire Chief and provide leadership to our dedicated firefighters. Our mission is to ensure the safety of our community, and I am committed to fostering a culture of excellence and service,” he remarked.
Soperton Mayor John Koon and Treutlen County Commission Chairman Phil Jennings also spoke on the occasion.
' We are thrilled to welcome John back home as our new Fire Chief,' emphasized Soperton Mayor Koon. 'His extensive background and passion for fire service make him an excellent leader for our community. We are confident that he will continue to strengthen community safety and the capabilities of our fire department.'
Chairman Jennings added, 'JJ's many years of experience is a blessing for our city and county. After seeing the level of detail and organization in his plan for the Soperton-Treutlen Volunteer Fire Department, I felt confident in his abilities to lead and protect not only his firefighters, but our community as a whole.'
Johnson began serving as the fire chief immediately following his appointment to the position. Officials state that they are excited for this new leadership, as Johnson’s wealth of experience and commitment to public safety will undoubtedly lead the departments to new heights.
