The Ledger

Cochran Fire Chief Says Service Never Stops When the Sirens Do

By Becky Holland

For Cochran Fire and Emergency Services Chief Brock Wilcher, there really is no such thing as an “ordinary” day.

At 42 years old, the longtime firefighter, coach, drummer, and sports fan spends most of his days waiting for what comes next — whether it is a medical call, structure fire, vehicle crash, emergency rescue, inspection, training session, or community outreach event.

“Even if you don’t hear the sirens, we are always working,” Wilcher said. “Training, cleaning, doing fire safety, inspections … there’s always something.”

Wilcher has served with the City of Cochran for nine years and has spent the last seven as fire chief. Before coming to Cochran, he worked for 10 years with an area fire department in Warner Robins. But his firefighting roots actually began much earlier as a volunteer firefighter in Laurens County.

“One morning I woke up and thought, ‘Why be a volunteer when you can do this full time?’” he said with a laugh.

Originally from Thomson, Georgia, Wilcher grew up in a family centered around service and discipline. His mother retired as a school teacher, while his father retired as a helicopter pilot with the Georgia State Patrol.

Ironically, Cochran was once just a quick stop along the road for Wilcher.

“I used to stop at the Circle K for gas driving through,” he said. “I never thought I’d end up working here.”

Today, he is one of the most visible public safety leaders in the community.

His workday often begins with some form of physical activity before shifting into the nonstop demands of running a fire department — checking reports, conducting inspections, responding to emergencies, teaching and training firefighters, researching grants, handling paperwork, ensuring compliance, and staying on call around the clock.

Wilcher says helping others remains the reason he continues to love the job.

“If we can help somebody and make something better for them, then that’s what matters,” he said.

That commitment to service extends beyond city limits. Wilcher said he strongly believes neighboring departments should help one another whenever possible. Several Cochran firefighters, including Wilcher himself, also work part time with the City of Eastman and Wilkinson County fire departments.

He also addressed common misconceptions about the relationship between Cochran’s city fire department and the county fire department.

“There are things the county firefighters do that we don’t and things we do that they don’t,” he explained. “But we work together when needed.”

Wilcher noted that the county handles county burn permits while the city issues permits within city limits. Cochran firefighters also respond to a wide variety of calls inside the city, including ambulance assists, medical calls, vehicle crashes, lockouts, and sometimes unusual situations.

“Yes, even the cat stuck in the tree calls,” he joked.

During his years in Warner Robins, Wilcher once even rescued an injured hawk from the Galleria Mall.

Leadership, he says, starts with example.

“I don’t believe in asking my guys to do something I’m not willing to do myself,” he said.

Outside the fire station, Wilcher stays busy coaching the KOHR 12U travel baseball team and Dudley Little League. A self-described “sports fan with a capital S-F,” he especially loves Georgia Tech athletics. His older brother played football, and the family regularly attends Georgia Tech games.

Music is another lifelong passion. Wilcher has played drums since he was 10 years old and now plays at his church. Recently, he said, he was baptized — something he described as deeply meaningful in his life.

When asked about the future, Wilcher believes Cochran and Bleckley County are continuing to grow and evolve.

“People need to be prepared for this community to keep growing and support it,” he said. “When I used to stop for gas here years ago, there really wasn’t much here. Now look at it.”

That growth includes the future of fire protection in Cochran. Wilcher said the department recently secured a grant and purchased land at Seventh and Cherry streets for a future fire station.

And one day, when retirement finally comes, Wilcher already knows where he hopes life will take him next.

“A lot of fishing and hunting,” he said with a smile.

As for advice he would give his younger self?

“Put God first,” Wilcher said. “And make sure your priorities are correct.”