After serving nearly 13 years with the Franklin Volunteer Fire Department, Jamie Fore was named chief Monday night, following in the footsteps of his father-in-law, Harold Hooker.

Fore is 27-years-old and was serving as the department’s deputy fire chief before his promotion earlier this week.

“Even with the new position, I haven’t forgotten where I came from or who got me here. Thanks to the community for letting me serve in this capacity,” Fore said.

Hooker, who is stepping down from the top seat to spend more time with his family, become a firefighter at the Franklin Volunteer Fire Department in October of 1983 and served as chief for almost 21 years. He stepped down Monday night.

In addition to the announcement as Fore as the new chief, new officers and board members were elected at the fire department’s annual meeting. Coy Harrell was appointed as the new chairman. Tim Flippen will fill the roll as vice chairman. Angie Hooker was named secretary, and Sheree Barnard will act as treasurer. Two new board members were named. They are Harold Hooker, the former chief, and David Speight, who is the assistant chief of the Mount Airy Rescue Squad.

Franklin Volunteer Fire Department responded to 836 calls in 2008, that number is just slightly less than Mount Airy’s paid fire department, which responded to 944 calls last year.

In Surry County, fire departments responded to a total of 7,142 calls. Surry County firefighters obtained 1,408 hours of training last year.

The number of calls for the other fire departments in the county included:

- Elkin with 149 calls.

- Pinnacle ran 68 calls, including medical first response.

- Shoals responded to 160 calls, including medical first response.

- Ararat had a total of 253 calls, including medical first response.

- Pine Ridge had 341 calls for service, including medical first response.

- C.C. Camp was dispatched to 145 calls.

- Jot-Um-Down received 124 calls.

- Dobson had 108 calls.

- Four Way VFD was called out 471 times, including medical first response.

- Mountain Park responded to 136 calls.

- Skull Camp had 471 calls, including medical first response.

- Westfield had 360 calls, including medical first response.

- South Surry responded to 419 calls, including medical first response.

- Bannertown was dispatched to 588 calls, including medical first response. (It was the third highest behind Mount Airy and Franklin.)

- Pilot Knob was dispatched 359 times.

- Central Surry was called on 287 times.

- White Plains responded to 444 calls, including medical first response.

- State Road had 384, including medical first response.

Fore said that 60-plus voting members attended the annual meeting at Franklin Monday night.

Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.