Chairman Retires with a Legacy of Progress
- West Jackson Fire Department
- Apr 17
- 3 min read
Fire Board Chairman Tim Sweat's departure marks the end of a remarkable chapter for the West Jackson Fire District and the beginning of a new season of progress.
After more than 20 years of dedicated service to the Braselton and Hoschton community, West Jackson Fire Board Chairman Tim Sweat formally resigned from the board on April 14, 2026.
Sweat was first appointed to Post 3 (unincorporated Hoschton) in 2007 and was re-elected by the community five times — in 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024. During his tenure, he served as chairman and helped guide the district through a period of tremendous growth. Most visibly, Sweat was at the helm when West Jackson Fire Department opened its second full-service station in 2021, a milestone that expanded the department's ability to serve residents north of I-85 and move closer to a 24/7 professional staffing model.
"The successes of this department don't happen without board support, and Chairman Sweat gave us that in every way. His belief in what we were trying to build here made it possible for us to keep moving forward. We are grateful for everything he did to serve our staff and the residents of West Jackson," Chief Ben Stephens said.
Harry Bryan elected chairman
The Fire Board elected longtime board member Harry Bryan (Post 1, City of Hoschton) as the new chairman.
Bryan first got involved with the Fire District back in 1986 as a volunteer firefighter, serving in that role for about five years. He was later appointed to the Fire Board in 1999, and again in January 2011 — a post he has proudly held ever since. A 30-plus year resident of the Braselton/Hoschton area, Harry brings both deep roots and a long institutional memory to his new role.
"Over the last 30 years, I have had the opportunity to see the West Jackson Fire Department evolve from 100% volunteer to a 24/7 staffed Department," Harry said. "Under the leadership of Chief Ben Stephens, we now have a trained and available professional staff 24/7 to better serve the community."
David Talford appointed to Post 3
Following Sweat's resignation at the April 14 board meeting, the Fire Board voted to appoint David Talford to the vacated Post 3 seat. His seat will be up for election in 2028.
A longtime emergency communications professional with AT&T, Talford has supported first responders throughout his career and is eager to bring that experience to public service. Recently retired, David looks forward to being an active, engaged board member as the department continues supporting the community.
Meet the Fire Board
Unique to our area, the West Jackson Fire District is an independent local government created by the state legislature to provide fire protection to residents of Braselton and Hoschton in western Jackson County. The West Jackson Fire Board is the governing body made up of five elected members, each representing a specific area of the district. They set the budget, appoint the fire chief, and make the decisions that keep the fire department staffed, equipped and ready.
👉 Meet the full Fire Board at wjfd.org/fire-board.
We're grateful to everyone who serves in this volunteer role — past and present. Their work is a big part of why West Jackson Fire Department is ready when you need us most.
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