Dedication of the New Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy

It was a fog filled morning, October 22nd, as 74th District Representative John Tidwell, Bob Keast (Benton County Emergency Management Director, and Rescue Squad Member), Don Nerren of Decatur County Sheriffs Department and Jim Corbin, Assistant Chief of the Big Sandy VFD and Sec. of the Rural Fire Chiefs Association, headed to Bell Buckle, Tennessee for the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy. This was a project that was seven long years in the making and with a Benton County connection. The facility, which is located approximately 15 miles south of Murfreesboro in northern Bedford County, found over 500 representatives of fire, rescue and emergency management services from all across the state as they all joined forces to witness and tour the establishment with its 330 sprawling acres offering the latest in training technology, state-of-the-art equipment and a full spectrum of educational courses.

The four-hour dedication ceremony included an ignition of a training fire, a spilled fuel fire simulation, rappelling demonstrations from the burn tower, wild land fire suppression with a Blackhawk helicopter and the cutting of the huge beautifully decorated white cake which was cut by Governor Sundquist. This dream of state firefighters and codes enforcement officials took a step toward reality in 1996 with the passage of Public Chapter 937 which created the Tennessee Fire Services and Codes Enforcement Academy (TFACA) under the Department of Commerce and Insurance, State Fire Marshal's Office. The academy features dedicated structures for realistic fire and codes scenarios, a hands-on training center with specialized laboratories, modern classrooms with a supporting research library and a three-bay fire station with accommodations for 24 recruit firefighters. There is also a 104-room, single occupancy dorm; a 250-person dining facility and maintenance and administration buildings.

The unique dual curriculum of fire service and codes enforcement subject matter is comprehensive, challenging and certification producing in accordance with applicable state and national standards and is presented to the students by a faculty of highly skilled, experienced professionals. Honoring a steadfast tradition as a leader in fire service training since establishing the original state fire school in 195, Tennessee is providing new and expanded training opportunities for the fire service. The new Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy administers state-of-the-art comprehensive training programs for state fire service professionals, both career and volunteer.

With approximately 23,000 firefighters across the state, 70% of which are volunteers, it is imperative that training programs are designed to provide the maximum opportunity for all fire service personnel to participate. To accomplish this, the Academy continues to deliver direct programming to local communities, as well as in-depth training at the campus. Regional field and on-campus training offers a wide range of courses, from basic firefighter to advanced officer training to specialized training. Programs include interactive practical training activities with 'live' simulations and training props to enhance the skills of new students and experienced fire service veterans. Tennessee has 33 career paid fire departments, 490 volunteer departments and 138 combination career and volunteer departments and over 100 Emergency Management Agency's along with 4,000 volunteer rescue squad members making up close to 10,000 emergency service personnel who are dedicated to the citizens of our Great State.

Through training, students learn and competently apply skills and techniques that enable them to protect the lives and property of Tennessee residents from the ravages of fire. We firmly believe this program will benefit not only the fire and emergency response personnel but also they are pledged to protect. There are approximately 22,885 firefighters in Tennessee, according to the most recent date from the National Fire Protection Association with Tennessee having more than 650 fire departments across the state. Approximately 70% of our fire service is volunteer. In 2001, two Tennessee firefighters lost their lives in the line of duty, which fit in the statistics from 1992 to 2001 with an average of two firefighters perishing each year. Tennessee currently ranks 6th in the nation for fire-related deaths, but each year the state incurs hundreds of millions of dollars in fire-related property loss.

In the early 1930's John Morgan Sims, who was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, believed in the act of fire protection and was actively involved in organizing a volunteer fire department for the City of Camden, Tennessee. Sims was the son of Joseph E. Johnston and Alice Carrey (Fisher) Sims. In 1941 he was employed by the Milan Arsenal Fire Department in the position of Assistant Fire Chief, and retired in 1961. He passed away September 1, 1975, leaving his widow, Lorene (Smothers) Sims. Lorene is 98 years young and resides in a nursing home in Camden. But the lineage and belief in the fire department didn't stop there.

Ernest Fred Sims, who was born May 8, 1943, has a portrait of his grandfather in his office. Fred, as he's known, is the son of Ernest J. and Francis Sims of Camden. Fred attended Camden schools and graduated from Camden High School and then attended Austin Peay University at Clarksville. In 1964 Sims was aboard the US Saratoga with the US Navy and a few years later, he served for quite some time as the Chief of the City Fire Department in Lebanon, Tennessee where he and his wife, Leigh, reside. Carrying on the family tradition, Fred was right there in the action when it came time to lobby for land grants and for seven years, Sims fought tooth and nail for this Academy. He was right in there. And on October 22nd, with all the frills and ribbon cutting being highlighted, Sims smiled a contented smile in the background. It had all come about after all. Fred Sims is listed in the Contact Information Guide of the Tennessee Fire Service Codes Enforcement Academy as the Facility Support Manager. And there in his office, is the portrait of his grandfather. The family tradition has come down the line - and now, one family from Benton County, Tennessee, can rest in the knowledge that their dedication to fire fighting will continue for years to come in those who are trained at this new facility.

What an awesome day October 22 was. A beautiful blue sky was enough to lift your spirits after a gray beginning to the week as Governor Don Sundquist cut the ribbon on the new Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy in Bell Buckle Tennessee.

74th District Representative John Tidwell, Sue and Jim Corbin of the Big Sandy VFD, Bob Keast Benton County Emergency Management Director and Rescue Squad member along with Don Nerren of Decatur County Sheriffs Department helped Brigadier General Wendell Gilbert, Anne Pope Commissioner and State Fire Marshall to dedicate this premier educational facility, located approximately 15 miles south of Murfreesboro in northern Bedford County. Joining in with the delegation of Benton County were over 500 representatives of fire, rescue and emergency management services from all across Tennessee as they all joined forces to witness and tour the facility and its 330 sprawling acres offering the latest in training technology, state-of-the-art equipment and a full spectrum of educational courses.

The four hour dedication included a fireworks display, the ignition of the first training fire, a spilled fuel fire simulation, rappelling demonstrations from the burn tower, wildland fire suppression with a Blackhawk helicopter, moment of silence memoriam of the fallen firefighters in Tennessee’s history, victims of 9-11, and cutting of the huge beautifully decorated white cake cut by Governor Sundquist.

The dream of state firefighters and codes enforcement officials took a step toward reality in 1996 with the passage of Public Chapter 937, creating the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy (TFACA) under the Department of Commerce and Insurance, State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The Academy features dedicated structures for realistic fire and codes scenarios, a hands-on training center with specialized laboratories, modern classrooms with a supporting research library and a three-bay fire station with accommodations for twenty-four recruit firefighters. Also included is a 104 room, single occupancy dorm; a 250 person dining facility; as well as maintenance and administration buildings.

The unique dual curriculum of fire service and codes enforcement subject matter is comprehensive, challenging and certification producing in accordance with applicable state and national standards and is presented to the students by a faculty of highly skilled, experienced professionals.

Honoring a steadfast tradition as a leader in fire service training since establishing the original state fire school in 1955, Tennessee is providing new and expanded training opportunities for the fire service. The new Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy administers state-of-the-art comprehensive training programs for state fire service professionals both career and volunteer.

With approximately 23,000 firefighters across the state, 70% of which are volunteers, it is imperative that training programs are designed to provide the maximum opportunity for all fire service personnel to participate. To accomplish this, the Academy continues to deliver direct programming to local communities, as well as in-depth training at the campus. Regional field and on-campus training offers a wide range of courses, from basic firefighter to advanced officer training to specialized training. Programs include interactive practical training activities with “live” simulations and training props to enhance the skills of new students and experienced fire service veterans.

Tennessee has 33 career paid fire departments, 490 volunteer departments and 138 combination career and volunteer departments and over 100 Emergency Management Agency’s along with 4,000 volunteer rescue squad members making up close to 10,000 emergency service personnel who are dedicated to the citizens of our Great State.

Through training, students learn and competently apply skills and techniques that enable them to protect the lives and property of Tennessee residents from the ravages of fire. We firmly believe this program will benefit not only the fire and emergency response personnel, but also those they are pledged to protect.

TENNESSEE FIRE SERVICE AND CODES ENFORCEMENT FACTS:
Click HERE to see additional photos

Story by Bob Keast, Director of Benton County Emergency Management Agency Member of the Benton County Rescue Squad and Susan Corbin

Photos by Bob Keast and Susan Corbin