(RUTHERFORD COUNTY) Several fire departments in Rutherford County are sending equipment and manpower to help battle the Sevier County wildfire in East Tennessee after a request for assistance was issued through the Tennessee Mutual Aid System.
Three members of the La Vergne Fire and Rescue Department were sent Wednesday night on a company pumper truck along with three members of Rutherford County Fire Department who provided a company tanker truck. Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department sent eight of its members Thursday morning along with two of its pumper trucks.
“We’ve been watching the operations in Wears Valley very closely,” says LFRD Chief Ronny Beasley. “This has been a quick moving fire and as soon as a call for aid went out we knew we had to help.”
“We will continue to support the firefighting efforts in Sevierville as needed,” says RCFR Chief Larry Farley. “The more personnel who are able to assist operations, the quicker we can get this wildfire under control.”
Mandatory evacuations were put into effect in parts of Sevier County overnight.
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“Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department is part of the Tennessee Mutual Aid System, and anytime there is a need we are ready to deploy,” said MFRD Chief Mark Foulks. “This is the volunteer state, and our department is here to help even though you don’t know what you will be facing once you get there with high winds and both wildland and structure fires.”
Personnel sent by rank and department:
LaVergne Fire and Rescue Department: Lt. James Pewitt, Engineer Kollyn Marquis, and firefighter Robert Vacek
Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue Department: Captain Adam Brown, Engineer Jeremy Spivey, Captain Josh Oliver, Engineer John Risher, firefighter T.J. Mickelson, firefighter Nathan Styles, firefighter Harrison Hovater, and firefighter Jacob Follis
Rutherford County Fire and Rescue Department: Shift Commander John Ingle, Lt. Doug Roell, and firefighter Ethan Mabe
Local officials are estimating more than 1,000 acres have been impacted by the wildfire. It’s not clear yet how long these firefighters will remain in Sevier County providing aid.
