On October 7, 2024, at the Savannah Exchange Club Luncheon, three members of the Chatham County Fire Department were recognized for their outstanding service.

Lieutenant Deverule Shafer was presented with the Professional Firefighter of the Year Award for 2024. Lt. Shafer is a Marine Corps. veteran with a combat deployment to Afghanistan in 2012. He joined the fire service in 2008 as a volunteer in Frederick County, Maryland. He has served in Maryland, Washington D.C. and now here in Chatham County as a firefighter.

“I love the service that we provide to the community. When I’m on duty and my crew is on duty and the people I have trained is on duty, we can give them the best outcome possible, because we are coming with the best,” said Shafer.

Captain Hunter Marr was awarded Volunteer of the Year award for 2024.

Captain Marr joined the Skidaway Volunteer Division, then Chatham Emergency Services and now Chatham County Fire Department. He completed all his training to include Fire Officer Three and served as the Training Officer and soon after became Division Chief.

Kayla Beard was awarded Rookie of the Year for 2024.

Beard began her career as an EMT in Clark County, Washington. She then moved to Savannah to join her fiancé and began her firefighter career with Chatham Emergency Services, now Chatham County Fire.