Rutherford County, Tenn. – Local fire departments are in the midst of growth. While some departments within Rutherford County are adding staff, others are constructing new fire hall’s and taking on new employees at the same time.
MURFREESBORO FIRE RESCUE DEPT. - The Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department (MFRD) recently welcomed eight new firefighters. The group took off their cadet ropes and rang the bell at a graduation ceremony, marking the completion of the Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Recruit Academy earlier this month.
Sixteen other firefighters from La Vergne Fire Rescue Department, Lebanon Fire Department, and Lawrenceburg Fire Department were also part of the graduation Class of 22-03.
MFRD Interim Chief Mark McCluskey and Deputy Chief Roger Toombs presented the new firefighters will their certificate of completion and badges at New Vision Baptist Church on Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro. The fire chiefs of the respective departments presented their badges to their new fire recruits.
“I’m pleased to welcome the new Murfreesboro recruits to our department,” McCluskey said. “The recruits are now a part of the MFRD family, and we wish them well and dedicated themselves to serving the residents of our growing city.”
Class 22-03 completed 10-weeks of training at the Training Academy held at Doug Young Public Safety Training Center on January Street. Fire recruits learned all aspects of basic firefighting including extrication, search and rescue, community risk and reduction.
Assistant Chief of Training Brian Lowe challenged the newly certified firefighters to make a difference in their community.
“I challenge you to earn it every single day,” Lowe told the recruits. “Get out of your comfort zone. Do what’s expected of you and a little more, and you’ll be fine.”
The Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department now has 240 certified firefighters with the latest graduates / new employees.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY FIRE RESCUE DEPT. - Meanwhile, the Rutherford County Fire Rescue Department is in the process of interviewing candidates to become part of their growing department. Prior to year 2010, fire protection in Rutherford County, outside the municipal city limits of Murfreesboro, Smyrna, LaVergne and Eagleville, was provided by 11 all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit fire departments. These departments were not associated with the County and provided fire protection services under contract with Rutherford County to their respective districts.
12-Years ago, Rutherford County officials created a County-wide fire department merging several of these volunteer organizations under a new County agency. Between 2010 and 2014, The Rutherford County Fire Department continued to operate as a volunteer fire department.
In 2014, the County was awarded a SAFER grant allowing for the hiring of their first 12 full-time Firefighters (4 per shift with 3 shifts). At that time, the Rutherford County Fire-Rescue Department operated out of one station on Barfield Road. With the merger of the Walter Hill Volunteer Fire Department, a second full-time station was added in 2016.
In 2019, Rutherford County EMS Special Operations was merged with Rutherford County Fire Rescue, adding a third full-time station. Between 2020 and 2021, The County Commission approved the construction of six new Public Safety Buildings. The first two of these six buildings are scheduled for completion by the end of December, with the opening in 2023. A total of 30 firefighters are slated to be hired to staff the new fire stations in the county.
NEW LA VERGNE FIRE STATION - In LaVergne, the groundbreaking for a new fire station took place earlier this month on November 4th. The new fire hall will include administrative offices, as well as fire trucks and crew. The construction process is underway now at 169 Stones River Road.
In Murfreesboro, if you are considering a career as a firefighter, contact Assistant Chief Lowe at 615-893-1422 or email blowe@murfreesborotn.gov.
To learn more about the hiring process within the Rutherford County fire departments, You can phone the RCFR Fire Marshal’s Office at 615-907-3600.
The Smyrna Fire Department is also in the process of hiring new firefighters. For more information on Smyrna, call 615-459-9735.
