Since its inception over a year ago, the Gordon County Fire Department’s address marker program has over seen 200 driveways installed with markers, and word of the program is spreading.

Lloyd Conaway, of 227 McCreary Rd. in Gordon County, paid a one-time tax-deductible fee of $20 to have members of the Gordon County Fire Department install the flexible and highly reflective address marker at the end of his driveway.

“What got me wanting one, I guess, is I saw one along the road and I thought that was a good idea, especially if you live across the road from your mailbox. It keeps people from having to hunt, especially if they’re in a hurry,” said Conaway.

According to the Gordon County Government’s website, the visible reflector markers can save lives and emergency service personnel have seen them work.

“Buddy Davis over on Dews Pond Road, he was one of the first that had one installed. He actually had a fire in his house; the lightening strike went through his dryer duct. His house sits off the road,” said Gordon County Fire Department Captain Heath Smith.

Without address markers, houses, especially in rural areas, as most parts of Gordon County are, that have mailboxes clumped together or address markers of sorts located across from the driveway or house they belong to, cause a time delay for EMS services.

According to Smith, the markers save lives and neighbors have the ability to protect neighbors.

“It may not be your address, it may be the one across the street we are looking for, but once we get in that general area, we know its close. It pays off,” said Smith.

The address marker idea came from firefighter Jonathon Pressley, according to Gordon County website, who is familiar with the program from another fire station he worked at previously.

“I did it previously at another department I worked for, and I thought we needed them here,” said Pressley, who then passed the idea onto the Prevention Division of the department.

The markers are made of a flexible, plastic material that will not cause damage to vehicles, which bend in case of impact, and are not dangerous to drivers, for anyone concerned about rambunctious mailbox batters.

All money collected from the markers are used to purchase materials for more address markers and do not go towards the fire department or any charities.

“It’s a small price when seconds count to increase your safety; it will help us find you,” said Gordon County Fire Department Assistant Chief Byron Sutton, according to the Gordon County website.

For more information about the address markers or to have one installed, contact the Gordon County Fire Department at 706-629-8851.