FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 18, 2025
A South Georgia forest ranger with a heart for service has earned a special award for his outstanding accomplishments. Clark Rountree, of Pitts, GA., has been named the Georgia Forestry Commission’s (GFC) 2024 Wildland Firefighter of the Year. The distinctive recognition is given annually to a GFC employee who demonstrates high-level performance and a strong work ethic. Rountree is a Ranger II in GFC’s Wilcox Co. Unit.
“Clark came to GFC after being in the military, serving 14 months in Iraq,” said Georgia Forestry Commission Director Johnny Sabo. “He immediately demonstrated his hard work ethic and self-motivation, and his service to forest landowners has been exceptional. Clark is especially deserving of this award.”
Among Rountree’s many achievements, he is credited with completing 145 hours of plowing and burning and more than 800 acres of prescribed burning. Rountree was the GFC Wilcox County Unit’s primary on-call ranger in FY24, responding to 11 of 12 wildfires. As a volunteer firefighter and Assistant Chief for Pitts Fire and Rescue, he is heavily engaged with local Rural Fire Departments. Rountree is known for his recruitment skills and his commitment to sharing information about GFC. He is instrumental in training new employees from other county units.
“I grew up here and I know about all of them,” he said of his fellow firefighters and area residents. “It’s easy for me to go out and help. I like to learn and I enjoy all of it.”
When he’s not fighting fires or serving local landowners, Rountree said he enjoys hunting, fishing, and working on “honey-do’s.” He and his wife, Holle, have been married for nine years and have one daughter.