DL Opinion columns

Protect and Serve: East Ridge Fire Rescue – by Deborah Levine

(column for Fri, Jan. 16)

I was intrigued by the email about the ‘Push In’ celebration of a new fire truck in East Ridge, a role model for growing TN cities. I joined the community folks, council members, fire fighters for a tradition since the 1800s when fire trucks were pulled by horses. This modern truck cost $900,000, and given the powerful engine, we didn’t have to push it into the fire engine bay to put the truck officially in service. But what fun to do it! 

Decades ago, the downtown fire station was a privately owned, relatively small building. Now the East Ridge Fire Rescue is a city service and the building is a modernized version of the original. Even so, it may be outgrown in the not too distant future, symbolic of the growth in East Ridge. 

This new fire truck is very much needed. The East Ridge Fire Rescue is one of the busiest departments in the State of Tennessee. There’s now a second fire station near Camp Jordan. Once farmland and a military site, Camp Jordan has sub-divisions and new businesses as well as soccer fields, golf courses, amphitheater, RV campground and multi-purpose arena. Mayor Brian Williams said, “We’re blessed to have this great community.” And knowing how much the new fire truck is needed, Mayor Williams added, “We now have another apparatus to help protect and serve our community.”

The Mayor’s support and that of the East Ridge City Council which included the new fire truck was greatly appreciated by Fire Chief Mike Williams: “When you’re supportive of services, you’re supportive of community.” The Chief is the personification of the mission of the East Ridge Fire Rescue Department which is “…to provide a selfless organization of people who hold devotion to duty above personal risk, who count sincerity of service above personal comfort and convenience, and who strive unceasingly to find better ways of protecting the lives, homes and property of their fellow citizens.”

I loved Chief William’s stories that brought to life these words of the Mission.  He talked about the children he’d saved and those who he couldn’t. His story about saving a friend of his young daughter who was trapped in a car after an accident was priceless. As he reassured her that he would rescue her and she would recover. she looked up at him, tangled in the car, and called him Dad. He did rescue her, got her to the hospital where she recovered from her many injuries. She’s now a mom herself, but still calls him Dad. 

Given his personal passion for service, Chief Williams goes above and beyond, giving 110%. He’s passed that on to his son who is also a firefighter. The Chief’s story revealing how the next generation is following in his footsteps, was mind boggling. There was a fire in an old house with it owner caught inside. She was a hoarder and the front door could barely be opened because of all the items stored there. The front door had to be broken down and the mess pulled out. Even though the firefighters could have been buried in the stuff and injured, they dove through and found the owner. Unfortunately, she didn’t survive, but his firefighter son did live to fight another day.   

Here’s one moral of the story – Don’t make your home difficult to save! Another moral – Value those who serve and protect. Firefighters save folks from burning homes, rescue them from floods, while often risking their own safety. I’m grateful for their passion and admire how they go into schools, inspiring our youth to emulate them. Let’s show our appreciation…Thank You!  

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