The GSD program is not just for Georgia firefighters. There are quite a few out-of-state members. However, this wasn’t always the case. Only recently has the program allowed firefighters from outside of Georgia into the class. This policy changed when David Rhodes was hired to manage the logistics at the Fire Department Instructors’ Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis every year. As time went on, other Georgia Smoke Divers began to assist in the logistics effort. They would wear their GSD t-shirts while working at FDIC. This got the attention of Captain Matt Stewart, of the Wayne Township, Indiana, Fire Department, who was assigned to be the local logistics connection.
Stewart became friends with the Georgia Smoke Divers while working with them at FDIC. He was impressed with their work ethic and their strong sense of community. Stewart asked Rhodes about the program. Rhodes told him this was a Georgia program that...