Tybee interim fire chief removed from office due to lack of certification

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) – One of Tybee Island’s interim fire chiefs has been fired because he was never certified to be a fire chief in the state of Georgia.

Acting Fire Chief Greg Socks was certified in the state of Maryland but never transferred that qualification to Georgia, according to the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council.

Socks was cautioned regarding his qualifications on April 29, five months ago.

The other interim fire chief, Jason Waterfield, does not currently meet the requirements but is certified in the state. His status is more a matter of paperwork and he must complete a “duty book” to meet the requirements.

A former Tybee city council member, police officer, and firefighter, says as a current resident this is a big problem for the island.

“If you ask a 25-year-old what this means for them, they probably won’t get much unless they have underlying conditions. But for the seniors down here, it’s even more important when we take such a big step and improve the technology and certification,” says John O’Neill, a former Tybee Island City Council member.

The Tybee Island Fire Department has been warned that it could have its license revoked if it does not comply with state law. The fire department’s EMS license remains expired.

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