The Georgia Mountain Volunteer Fire Department (GMVFD) was established by five area residents in 1982 to provide fire protection for a small rural community on the western outskirts of Guntersville, Alabama.  The initial coverage area of 7 square miles contained approximately 30 homes and farms with the remaining area being pasture, grass and wood lands.  The original cement block building still stands at 2485 Georgia Mountain Road and continues to serve as a vehicle garage and equipment repair shop.  Future plans will convert a portion of the building into an office and classroom for firefighter and public training and presentations. Residential and business growth in the surrounding areas, and the addition of Emergency 911 (E911) services in Marshall county, expanded the Department's coverage area to over 45 square miles in the early 1990's.  An additional building was constructed in 1997, and a second fire station was established in 1998.  Today the Department provides fire and emergency services for more than 900 homes and businesses - over 3,300 full-time residents.  Memorial Day brings a seasonal increase of 1,100 part-time residents to the area's RV parks and campgrounds.  Automatic mutual aid agreements with neighboring departments doubles the coverage area and adds the Marshall North Medical Center, four schools, assisted living facilities, and a TVA electric power generation and distribution facility.  Our volunteer firefighters and equipment are the Forestry Commission's first line of defense for area wildfires.  45% of our emergency calls pertain to brush, grass and woodland fires.  House fires, vehicle fires and accidents, personal emergencies, storm damage recovery, and road clearings account for the remaining E911 dispatches.  2006 saw the department respond to 80 emergency calls, 27 more than 2005. A future goal is the addition of first response medical assistance so we may better support and serve the community and its residents.