CORNELIA, Ga. – Months after a fire forced the evacuation of Fieldale Farms’ processing plant in Cornelia, Habersham County emergency personnel joined city and county agencies this week for a detailed walkthrough of the facility aimed at improving emergency response.
Captain Bill Ramsey and Lt. Randi Seabolt represented Habersham County EMS during the multi-agency visit, which focused on identifying potential hazards and strengthening coordination should another incident occur.
“Our team was able to tour key areas such as the generator and compressor rooms, as well as several chemical storage areas,” Seabolt said. “Seeing those locations firsthand helps us understand where potential hazards might be and what materials our crews could encounter during an incident. That knowledge is invaluable when seconds matter.”
Proactive training is essential
Officials said the walkthrough allowed responders to pinpoint areas that may require additional protection and better understand where heavy fire loads could be present. That familiarity, they said, reduces the time needed to make critical decisions during an emergency.
“This kind of proactive training is essential,” EMS Director and Chief Jeff Adams said. “Opportunities like this help us strengthen our response capabilities and ensure we’re ready for any situation. We greatly appreciate Fieldale allowing us access to their facility so that all our agencies can be better prepared to protect both the business and the community.”
The May 25 fire prompted a full evacuation of the facility, though no injuries were reported. County officials said continued coordination with Fieldale is part of an effort to improve safety for workers and first responders.
