Augusta, GA
I-TEAM UPDATE: City leader calls for answers on silent alarms at Augusta Fire Department
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Questions about the reliability of the Augusta Fire Department’s emergency response have caught the attention of Augusta Commission member Catherine Smith McKnight.
News 12′s I-TEAM uncovered 139 cases over the past two years when dispatch calls to Augusta’s fire stations failed to go through. That led to delays in response times.
Among those delays and dispatch errors was a deadly house fire – just across the street from a fire station. Two people were found just steps from the home’s front door.
THE INVESTIGATION SO FAR:
The I-TEAM took our findings to McKnight, who currently chairs Augusta Richmond County’s public safety committee.
McKnight said she was unaware of any problems and the issue was never brought up in the committee or in commission.
However, McKnight says she now wants answers and says this safety concern is a priority. She says she will bring it up at the next Augusta Commission public safety committee and commission meetings.
McKnight told News 12 she is shocked that our I-TEAM investigation is the first time this safety issue has been brought to her attention and questions why dispatch errors haven’t been brought up earlier.
McKnight went on to say no family should have to go through having to worry about this or suffer the loss of a family member.
News 12 has repeatedly requested an interview with Augusta Fire Chief Antonio Burden, who has denied or not responded to our invitation to sit down and answer questions about what his department has done to alert commissioners or to find the root of the dispatch errors.
McKnight’s official statement:
As the Public Safety Committee Chairman, I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family of Teresa Ingram and Rex Williams who both lost their lives in a house fire. Just finding out about this tragedy that took place last year on October 14, 2023, has me asking questions as to why a fire station that sits 200 yards across the street from this house where the fire broke out and yet not one crew member saw it happen is baffling. As a sitting Commissioner, I want answers from our Dispatch Department Director and Fire Chief about the malfunction of the Purvis system and dispatching problems so that moving forward we can prevent something like this from happening again. Public Safety is top priority as a Commissioner of this county and the lives of our citizens. It is imperative that we have the best equipment and that it constantly be monitored and maintained to ensure safety for all.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Volunteers came together Saturday to help clean up an Augusta neighborhood.
The cleanup took place on Wheeless Road and Dorn Road.
Jeremiah Atkinson started the event as a way to clean up trash dumped in the area and help the community.
He said they had at least 30 bags picked up as of Saturday morning.
“My message is if you see one piece of trash, pick it up and help Augusta clean it up because I feel like that would be more efficient, just pick up one piece of trash a day, just one to help out the community,” Atkinson said.
Organizers also provided snacks for volunteers.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
TikToker cleans father’s hoarded house – and goes viral
Madison Lovelle posts videos online while going through and cleaning her childhood home after her father died.
Housing costs are often the biggest Georgians deal with every month, so it’s important to try and save money where possible.
Last week, WalletHub released its ranking of the most affordable cities to buy a home. It analyzed 300 cities based on 10 metrics, with the biggest weight going to housing affordability and cost per square foot.
Best city to buy a home in Georgia?
Augusta ranked the highest among Georgia cities, ranking 8th overall and 3rd best in the midsized cities list.
Augusta real estate prices
According to Zillow, as of March, the median list price for a house in Georgia is $205,000 with a median sale price of $187,283. About 57% of sales are under the list price.
The average rent, as of April, is $1,365 per month.
Augusta cost of living
The MIT Living Wage Calculator reports the hourly pay needed to support yourself and/or your family, assuming full-time employment. For Richmond County (Augusta), it’s $20.31 for one adult, $28.16 for a two-adult household with one working, and $14.08 for a two-adult household with both working.
Children obviously increase the wage needed. Depending on how many adults are working, the necessary pay figures may increase by up to $13 for just one child, with more needed for additional children.
Worst city to buy a home in Georgia?
The Georgia city with the lowest ranking on the list overall was Sandy Springs. However, with 300 cities, landing at No. 151 doesn’t make it nearly the worst in the nation. Sandy Springs was No. 56 on the small cities list.
What are the best cities to buy a home in US?
- Flint, MI
- Detroit, MI
- Surprise, AZ
- Yuma, AZ
- Akron, OH
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Memphis, TN
- Augusta, GA
- Indianapolis, IN
- Cleveland, OH
Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Senate candidate Derek Dooley made several visits to the area on Friday.
Dooley had stops in both Lincolnton and Augusta on May 29 and was joined by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp for his “Georgia First” tour. He spoke about one of the issues he finds in politics.
“But the other piece of it is the corruption. People sit on these committees. They have access to information that none of us have. And then you look up 2 or 3 years down the road and their wealth is just skyrocketing,” Dooley said. “You’re outperforming every investor out there. And I think it’s shameful. I think it erodes trust. It’s something that I will never do.”
“Politicians were out there getting paid. They were coming back home. They’re raising money and campaigning while the government shut down,” Kemp said. “What Derek’s saying, if he’s up there, we’re not going to allow legislators to get paid. We’re going to take away their benefits. That way, you won’t ever have another shutdown again.”
Dooley is facing Congressman Mike Collins in a runoff for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
The winner of the Republican nomination will face incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.
Photojournalist credit: Regynal McKie
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