The City of Millen has had an organized fire department for 100+ years. In the 1960s, a group of residents in the unincorporated area organized the Jenkins County Volunteer Fire Department. That group became the Jenkins County Rescue Squad. Before the late Fire Chief W.B. Black retired, it was decided that the City of Millen could no longer send its fire engines out of the city. That decision was based upon two problems: when the Class A City Engine left the city, the city was not protected, and, the city apparatus was governed to non-highway speeds. This resulted in damaged apparatus and poor response times.

The Insurance Services Office (A Private Ratings Company to whom many insurance companies subscribe) rates fire protection classifications on: the water system, the ability of the fire apparatus, communications system, training, on-duty 24-hour personnel, distance and code compliance.

The area within the city limits of Millen had in-place all of these requirements for rate reduction. The unincorporated areas of the county did not. The last ISO inspection resulted in a split rating for fire protection: A class 5 for property inside the city, and a Class 9 for the area within 5 miles of the city fire station in the unincorporated area. The difference was the lack of a Class A fire engine, lack of a water supply, and lack of building codes within the unincorporated area. The better equipped city apparatus was unable to respond. The engines that did respond belonged to Jenkins County and were primarily brush trucks obtained through the Georgia Forestry Commission. Those homes further than five miles from the city station were considered unprotected.

Several insurance companies allowed their agents to write insurance at the lower premium class with a written declaration that a truck carrying 750 gallons of water would respond.

With an agreement between the Jenkins County Board of Commissioners and the Millen City Council, up to six volunteers could leave the city to fight county fires. ISO requires a minimum of 12 firefighters to respond whether the fire is in the city or the county.

In 2005 the Jenkins County Commission adopted the Jenkins County Rural Fire Defense Plan. As a result, there have been six stations established throughout the county. The Jenkins County Volunteer Fire Department has been re-established and has new apparatus and equipment. The unincorporated area has been divided into three protection areas. The station in Millen serves as the hub of the rural fire defense.

The manner in which ISO grades those areas is now GPS based. The City of Millen has not made any negative changes in delivery of fire services in over 25 years.

The rural fire departments have brought fire protection to most homes in unincorporated Jenkins County. As these departments improve, the insurance ratings outside the city limits will improve. ISO is scheduled to begin inspections in late fall of 2009. Insurance premiums affected by the change will begin to drop significantly as these improvements are made. Those who are currently a Class 9 will see their rates begin to drop as the Classifications improve.

While some folks look for someone, or some organization to blame, there is no one to blame. The Millen Fire Department is still a Class 5/9. The rural departments are still a Class 9. The classifications will improve as quickly as possible.

Several property owners in the unincorporated areas were able to enjoy the fruits of the City of Millen's efforts. Insurance companies are no longer permitting local agents to write lower premium policies in areas that do not have paid firefighters, pressurized water systems, and building codes.

All of the fire departments are working diligently to lower your premiums and provide the best fire protection possible.