- City of Knoxville Fire Department
-
City of Knoxville Fire Department Established 1886 Staffing Career Strength 346 uniformed Stations 18 Engines 17 Squads 3 Rescues 1 Fireboats 1 EMS Level ALS & BLS Fire chief Stan Sharp Website Official website 
KFD's engine no. 1 in July 2010
The City of Knoxville Fire Department (KFD) is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Knoxville, Tennessee The Department runs an average of 30,400 calls per year. They service about 100 square miles (260 km2) within the city limits. EMS calls made up 56.7% of the annual call volume. Divisions inside the department include: Fire suppression, training center, public education, codes and inspections, fire and explosives investigations, logitstics, EMS, and maintenance shop.
History
The Knoxville Fire Department can trace its beginnings all the way back to 1854 when Town Marshal J.D. Stacks saw the need for an organized bank of firemen. But it was in March 1885 when the city of Knoxville formed a full-time, paid fire department. With only seven employees, the department's first Fire Chief, Herman Schenk, took on the duties of protecting the city. By the turn of the century, the number of firefighters in the department had grown to 30. With the increase in personnel came the need for more fire stations and better equipment. In the last 100 years, the Knoxville Fire Department has grown from the Headquarters station in an old livery stable building with two horse drawn engine companies and one aerial truck company to 18 fire stations, out of which 54 engine, ladder, rescue, and hazmat companies, as well as tankers, rescue boats and other specialty equipment operate.
The department has also kept abreast of the latest in fire suppression technology and has incorporated state-of-the-art firefighting and communication equipment into its system. As the 21st Century draws near, the Knoxville Fire Department stands ready with dedicated men and women. The technology may change as the years progress, but the heart and soul of the department does not.
See also
External links
Categories:- Fire departments in Tennessee
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
