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Montgomery County Emergency Service Personal head to East Tennessee to assist in Wildfires

Montgomery County Government TennesseeMontgomery County, TN – Montgomery County Emergency Medical Services (MCEMS) and Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Service have answered the call for assistance for the wildfires in East Tennessee.

Currently five MCEMS personnel and 14 volunteer fire personnel are in route to the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area to provide assistance to the emergency personnel already on the scene.

Five MCEMS personnel and 14 volunteer fire personnel get ready to head to East Tennessee.
Five MCEMS personnel and 14 volunteer fire personnel get ready to head to East Tennessee.


Both agencies have joined forces with personnel from other Tennessee counties. Montgomery County personnel don’t yet know their mission, but will be briefed upon arrival.

Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett states, “The fires in East Tennessee are devastating. Our prayers are with those affected, and with our personnel headed into the area. Tennessee is known as the volunteer state for a reason, we received assistance during the flood and I’m proud that we have people willing to lend a hand when called upon. I pray for their safety and for a successful mission.”

MCEMS Director Jimmie Edwards adds, “We have two ambulances and a supervisor vehicle in route to East Tennessee with teams from Metro Nashville, Wilson County EMA and Sumner County EMS. Our personnel include Strike Team Leader Dustin Haas, Paramedic; Chris Brown, AEMT; Bobby Ward, Paramedic; Lt. Garland Lester, Paramedic and Terry Miller, Paramedic, in two ambulances and a support vehicle. They are headed to the Gatlinburg resort district to relieve assets currently operating.”

Edwards continues, “We are grateful for the opportunity to serve and ask that your thoughts and prayers be with all rescue operations, as well as the residents and visitors, in the path of the disaster.”

EMA Director Jerry Buchanan adds, “I received a call for assistance around 7:00 this morning, and by 10:00am. I had a team of 14 volunteers ready to hit the road to East Tennessee. That says a lot about the heart of our Volunteer Fire Service. Those firefighters assisting include: Craig Williams, Christopher Smith and Janelle Jastillana from the Rescue Squad; Derrick Wilson and Chris Everheart from East Montgomery Volunteer Fire Service; Thomas Higgins, Logan Face, Jonathan Etson and Chuck Wagoner from St. B Volunteer Fire Service; Shaun Arms with Cunningham Volunteer Fire Service; Rodney Grimsley and Randall Steeley with Emergency Management and Curtis Morais and Matthew Leverett with Woodlawn Volunteer Fire Service.

Teams do not yet know how long they will be assisting in East Tennessee. Updates will be made as they come available.

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