Divisions

Tim Prather Division Chief of Operations

Operations Division Tim Prather serves as the Division Chief of Operations. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations of fire and emergency services including the monitoring of staffing procedures and budget activity, the evaluation of policies and procedures and the handling of grievances externally and internally. Chief Prather was raised in a firefighting family resulting in over 30 years of firefighting experience. His father was a retired Fire Chief with the city of Jasper. He joined the Jasper Volunteer Fire Department at the age of 15 with the understanding that he would be under the direct supervision of his father. After graduation from Pickens High School, Chief Prather became a full-time firefighter with City of Jasper. In September 1977, he joined the United States Marine Corp and eventually served with the Twenty-nine Palms Marine Air Ground Combat Center where he also worked as a structure firefighter for the corps from 1979-80. From 1980 until 1987, Chief Prather worked in law enforcement with the Jasper Police Department and the Pickens County Sheriff’s Department. In 1987, Prather graduated from Reinhardt College with an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice. In 1987, Chief Prather began his career with Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services and eventually received his Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification a year later. In 1990, he became a founding organizer for Bethany-Salem Volunteer Fire Department in Pickens County, where he presently serves as the department’s Fire Chief. Chief Prather is also Chairman of the Pickens County Fire Chief Association. Prior to becoming Chief of Operations, he served as a company officer at fire station 20, located off Bells Ferry Road, in southwestern Cherokee County.

Phillip McPherson Division Chief of Training

Training Division Phillip McPherson serves as the Division Chief of Training. He is responsible for developing, managing and administering the training needs for Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services, which include both the career and volunteer firefighters. Chief McPherson also ensures that the fire department is in compliance with agencies such as Georgia Firefighters Standards and Training, Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Human Resources. He also maintains training records, the training budget and provides the agency and personnel with new “state of the art” training opportunities. McPherson began his employment with Cherokee County Fire on July 12th, 1983, when his was hired at Oak Grove Fire Department. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1989 and to Captain in 1992. In February of 1999, McPherson was promoted to Captain in the Training Division and would later become Battalion Chief of Training in the spring of 2000. He would later become Operations Chief in January, 2003 and Battalion 3 Chief later that same year. McPherson developed the Fire Safety Education program and later, with the help from his wife, developed the first fire safety education workbook that was approved by then school superintendent, Marguerite Cline. Chief McPherson is married to Jean and they have 3 children. He is a member of the Pleasant Union Baptist Church and is also a Master Mason.