December 23rd, 2025 – 1:30 PM
WRGA Staff Reports –
After 12 weeks of recruit school, Rome and Floyd County’s newest firefighters are on the job.
The Rome-Floyd County Fire Department recently held a graduation ceremony for recruit class 55.
“We graduated ten recruits and got them out in the field,” said Division Chief Clete Bonney during last week’s Floyd County Public Safety Committee meeting. “That accounts for one of our 36 year captains, who is retiring in January. Chad Holder has been with us a long time, and that keeps us at full manpower with those recruits going out.”
He also updated the committee on the latest tool the fire department has to help fight fires—a drone.
“It’s a game changer for us,” he said. “You can get aerial shots of which way the fire is moving, where your exposures are, and any hazards we need to look out for. It also gives you an idea of where all your manpower and equipment is at.”
The drone has already been used during a recent grass and woods fire.
