Fire Department History

History

The Gautier Fire Department was established in February 1989. There were two stations in the City and one volunteer station in the utility district. The Central Station, located on College Circle next to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, housed two paid staff members - a firefighter and a shift supervisor. The fire station on Ladnier Road housed a lieutenant and a firefighter, and the utility district contracted a firefighter at the North Station for 24 hours to assist the volunteer department. The original department began with 12 firefighters, 3 lieutenants, 3 captains, and the original Fire Chief, Ernie Brimbacombe.

In 2003, after the annexation of the utility district, many changes came about in the department. The North Station on Martin Bluff road was manned with 2 firefighters and a lieutenant. The Central Station was manned with 3 firefighters and a captain, and the South Station was manned with a firefighter and a lieutenant. The City's fire rating was changed from a 7 to a 6 on June 11, 2002. The department grew to 18 firefighters, 6 lieutenants, 3 captains, an administrative assistant, and a fire marshal under the leadership of Chief Mike Gray. Under the guidance of Chief Robert Jones, the department added a fourth station in west Gautier.

Current Fire Chief Joshua Latch, a Jackson County native, was named interim chief in October 2020. In March 2021, he was given the permanent placement. Latch has been a firefighter with Gautier Fire Department since 2008. In 2016, he was promoted to lieutenant, and in 2020 he became the department’s training chief. 

GFD is working together with City management to meet the needs of our citizens and to provide the best of fire and rescue services to our citizens. The line and staff in the department are striving to provide the most up-to-date means of fire protection and rescue and continue to work with surrounding agencies to serve Gautier citizens.