Fire Chief Matt Whiting talks about more than three decades of service and what it means to lead a modern fire department. From life-saving medical calls and advanced technology like thermal imaging cameras to supporting his firefighters through tough moments, Chief Whiting provides an inside look at the people, preparation, and leadership behind Winder’s fire service.

Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself?

A: I was born in Winder, so I'm a local. I went to Winder-Barrow High School, went off to college for a little while, and had an opportunity to take a part-time job with the fire department when I was 20 years old. I had no intentions of becoming a full-time firefighter — it was just some extra money on the weekends while I finished college — and I actually fell in love with the profession and accepted a full-time position. I went back after I started at the fire department and completed my degree in fire science. I've been in Winder my whole life and with the fire department 33 years.

Q: You didn’t really plan on making this a career. What ignited your passion?

A: Running calls, the excitement of being at the station and responding…it just gets in your blood. I decided that’s what I wanted to do, even though it didn’t make sense at the time. And 33 years later, here I am.

Q: How many people worked in the fire department when you first started?

A: There were six full-time firefighters — two per shift — and about 25 to 30 part-time firefighters who came in on calls. As far as paid firefighters, there were six, plus a paid fire chief and an administrative assistant. So eight paid employees total.

Q: How many do we have now?
A: Currently we have 42 paid firefighters and around six part-time.

Q: Was there a defining moment when you knew you made the right choice?

A: Not really one moment. Chief Madison was here early on and told me, “If you’ll give me three years, I’ll make this a good place to work.” The city made great strides to make the fire department competitive, and I had opportunities to promote early. I’ve never looked back thinking it was a mistake.

Q: Did you have any mentors, or was it the school of hard knocks?

A: A little of both. Chief Madison was a mentor, and several older firefighters taught me a lot. But there’s no way to prepare yourself to be a fire chief until you jump in the deep end and figure things out. It takes years.

Q: How long have you been the fire chief?

A: Fourteen years. I'm working on my 15th year as fire chief.

Q: How would you describe yourself as a leader? How would your team describe you?

A: My philosophy is to hire and promote good people and let them do their job. I delegate and make sure everything is up to standard,. We have a lot of great people with expertise and knowledge. My job is to assist them and step in only when needed.

Q: What has changed the most from day one until now?

A: The growth of Winder — the traffic, the people moving in. If I could look back at the way the city was 33 years ago, it would be a shock.

Q: How have those changes affected how the fire department operates?

A: Medical calls have increased dramatically. Last year we ran around 2,900 calls, and probably 2,400 of those were medical. We added another rescue truck and made the department EMT-certified across the board so firefighters can get on scene quickly and start care before the ambulance arrives.

Q: What would you want residents to know about calling 911?

A: If you think you need the fire department, call us. Some calls probably could be handled at urgent care, but without knowing the situation, we don’t want to tell anyone not to call 911.

Q: After all these years, what still motivates you to come to work?

A: The people. We have some great people at the fire department. I love being around them, making sure they get what they need, and doing anything I can for them.

Q: How do you help your staff after an emotional or difficult day?

A: Communication. Most of our officers are trained in critical stress debriefing. We also have a chaplain we call in when needed. After a traumatic call, we sit down, let them talk, and see if they need any assistance.

Q: What is one of the toughest days you’ve ever had on the job? And what helped? 

A: There have been a lot of tough days. I've seen things I wish I hadn't. My faith helps. Firefighters are bad about burying things, but we try to remind them: you're responding to a citizen’s emergency. Your job is to make the situation better.

Q: What’s the funniest or strangest thing you can remember happening?

A: We responded to a structure fire just after midnight. The homeowner said he had pets inside. We expected a dog or a cat. Instead, a four- to five-foot alligator came out the door.   Then he said he had about 50 pit vipers inside. We backed out and attacked the fire from the outside. He wasn’t allowed to have them — he was selling exotic animals — so we called police and animal control.

Q: When somebody calls you or you arrive on a call, how important is it for them to be upfront about what’s going on?
A: The biggest piece of information we’re looking for when we pull up to a fire is: Is everybody out of the house and accounted for? That determines our next move. Our first priority is search and rescue, so if the homeowner or occupant can be out front and let us know whether everyone is out, that’s vital.

If there’s anything else we need to know that could be a danger — like 50 pit vipers, propane tanks, or anything hazardous — that’s also important. But the first question we’re going to ask is, “Is everybody out?” Any other information after that is helpful too.

Q: How has technology impacted what you do?

A: Technology has changed the game. The biggest is the thermal imaging camera. When a house is on fire, it's not like TV. You can't see. You had to search by feel, so we would get on a wall and swing your arms and hands around furniture and under beds. With the cameras, it lets us see heat signatures, fires in the wall, hidden fire, and outlines of bodies.

We also have computer-aided dispatch with hydrant locations, dispatch notes, and pre-plans in the truck, which gives us valuable information before we arrive.

Q: Is there a time when the thermal imaging camera helped significantly?

A: When we used to go into a fire, we put the fire out, and then we would have to rip up half the ceiling open and have the walls open to make sure there was no hidden fire in a voids or in the insulation. But with the cameras, we can locate the fire and get heat signatures so we don't have to do as much damage to a home. 

Q: You all do a lot of public education—from little kids to seniors. How do you approach that, and what’s your favorite part of doing that? 

A:  We give station tours, provide fire safety classes for daycares and schools, and stop what we’re doing to help citizens who have questions. 

Q: Can you can you tell everybody what y'all do for Camp Twin Lakes? 

A: We're very active in the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation. We host a golf tournament every year that raises a little over $20,000, which goes towards the burn camps and surgeries for burn victims in Georgia. We're fortunate that the burn camp is actually held in Winder at Fort Yargo State Park. Every Wednesday we send a fire truck out and we spray the kids with water. And they love that. 



Q: What challenges do you see coming to the fire service in the next 5–10 years?

A: Battery fires — especially electric vehicles. They’re difficult to extinguish, can reignite days later, and some towing companies won’t tow them. We’re ordering a fire blanket and training on how to handle them.

Q: What’s one thing people can do to prevent house fires?

A: Unattended cooking is the number one cause. Also: use smoke detectors, be careful with lightning-related attic fires, avoid using drop cords as permanent wiring, and use space heaters and electric blankets safely. Keep live Christmas trees watered.

Q: What’s one misconception TV shows create about firefighting?

A: It’s not as exciting as TV shows make it seem. There's a lot of maintenance, cleaning, training, and preparing. Inside a real fire, you can’t see anything.

Q: If resources weren’t an issue, what would you do for Winder’s Fire Department?

A: Add a station, add a new training center, and pay our firefighters as much as possible. They deserve it.

Q: Are you having any staffing issues?

A: We’re fully staffed. Public safety hiring is getting harder everywhere, but we’ve been fortunate.

Q: How do you stay alert and balanced during 24-hour shifts?

A: The day is structured — 8 to 5 is business hours with training and cleaning. After 5 is downtime unless needed. We encourage working out and getting to bed by 10 p.m. Physical fitness and mental resets are key. Fire service is a marathon not a sprint. 

Q: What do you do on your time off?

A: I enjoy working out, playing golf, and spending time with my family. My oldest son is home for a few more weeks before moving for an engineering job.

Q: What legacy do you want to leave?

A: I just want people to feel like I cared about the firefighters, cared about the community, and did things to make Winder better and take care of the citizens.

Q: What advice would you give upcoming firefighters?

A: It’s the best job in the world, but it’s a calling. You're not going to get rich, but you'll be fulfilled. Take care of your body, your mental health, and spend time with your family. 

Q: What does the Fire Department do during the holidays that you want the public to know about?

A: Our Empty Stocking Drive. It started in the early ’90s and now provides Christmas for hundreds of kids — 698 last year. Donors and volunteers help us buy and distribute toys. It fills the station in December. We’re planning on distributing the toys Dec. 12.

Q: Is there anything else you want to share with the public?

A: If you ever need anything, my door is always open. You can email me, call me, or stop by the fire station between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Our firefighters are always happy to help or give a tour.