Cherokee Fire Field Operations Chief Gets New Helmet

Staff Report

Greg Erdely, field operations chief for Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services, was recognized by his peers late last week when they presented him with a new fire helmet. 

Several firefighters from Battalion 1 B Shift, Erdely’s previous battalion, gathered at the Cherokee County Fire Training Complex to make the presentation.

Lt. Greg Reece, spokesman for the group, thanked Erdely for his leadership and for being a mentor for many of the firefighters within the fire department. 

Chief Erdely said that he was very appreciative for all the hard work that these firefighters have done which has been very beneficial for him get to his current position. 

“A good leader is only as good as the people that work with them," he said. "I feel that we have the best firefighters and the best fire department in the country." 

Chief Erdely came to work for Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services in May 1995. He became a battalion chief for the department in 2005. In 2013, Chief Erdely was promoted to the position of field operations chief.

Editor's note: those in the group photo are: Back Row, left to right: Lt. Scott Gwinn, Sgt. Bradley McDonald, Sgt. Nathan Baum, Cody Collett, Chief Erdely, Scott Tifton, Sgt. Ashley Adams, Lt. Greg Reece and Sgt. Benjy Pearson. Front row, left to right: Sgt. Chris Martin, Casey Cannon, Jonathan Gottfried, Sgt. Bryan Thomas, Andrew Kane, Capt. Shannon Gibbs and Benjamin Kiefer.