A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE
KINGSTON SPRINGS FIRE DEPARTMENT

Certain civic-minded persons, who saw the need to have fire protection provided locally, founded the Kingston Springs Volunteer Fire Department in 1959. This need was heightened in response to a hotel fire that had to be extinguished with hand-carried buckets of water. Fire services were contracted with outside agencies prior to that time, although the response was unreliable at best. The Kingston Springs Volunteer Fire Department soon received the sponsorship of the local Civic club. Later, the Town of Kingston Springs was chartered and, after much urging by members of the volunteer department, the city agreed to take over responsibility for the Fire Department and provide it with a base-operating budget. The Fire Department became a department of the City in 1974. This arrangement has resulted in the development of one of the highest rated, volunteer or paid, fire departments in the state of Tennessee.

A one-car garage off N. Main St. was the first bay. By 1979, the volunteers had accumulated two fire engines, two tanker trucks, one brush fire unit, and one rescue truck. All equipment was purchased or built by the volunteers, using donated funds. Donations also provided financing for the fire hall, which was constructed using volunteer labor and completed in 1979. From these humble beginnings the Fire Department has grown to include Station 1 with living quarters, full kitchen, dispatch room, chief's office, training room, and 6-vehicle bay. Station 2 houses an engine and a service truck and was completed in 1999 and was dedicated to former Chief Jimmy Butner in 2000. Station 3 houses an engine and a medical rescue truck and was completed in 2002.

The Department currently maintains 8 apparatus including - 3 engine/pumpers, 1 ladder-tower truck, 1 service company truck, 1 tanker, 1 rescue truck, and 1 medical response unit.

In 1980, the volunteer leadership decided that it was time to try for an Insurance Service Organization (ISO) rating. ISO ratings measure a fire department's effectiveness and are used by insurance companies to determine the rate homeowners pay for their insurance. Realizing that the fire engines the department had at the time were inadequate they decide to purchase a new fire engine. The hard work of the volunteers and the city's new engine paid off by making the Kingston Springs Fire Department the first all volunteer fire department in Tennessee to receive and ISO Class 5 rating. This meant a reduction of up to 50% in homeowner’s insurance rates for homeowners inside the city limits. The pride this community had in its volunteer fire department was well founded. In 1997 the Kingston Springs Fire Department sought to once again improve our ISO rating. The department leadership implemented a strategic plan to include the construction of 2 new fire stations strategically located to provide equal distribution of the equipment throughout our jurisdiction. The plan also included the purchase of 2 new engines and a ladder tower truck. Bi-annual hydrant inspections were also implemented along with pre-planning and inspecting our area businesses and schools. In 2003 the Kingston Springs Fire Department received an ISO rating of Class 4. The Kingston Springs Fire Department is the only department of our size in the state of Tennessee to receive an ISO rating of class 4.

As has been the case since the inception of the Fire Department, the service area extends well beyond the city limits, covering approximately 52 square miles. There are approximately 2,733 residences in the Kingston Springs city limits and 4,727 in the surrounding service area.

The Fire Department became a branch of the new Public Safety Department in 1995. Although still primarily a volunteer department, 5 Public Safety Officers employed by the City are also cross-trained as firefighters. The organizational structure includes a Chief, Assistant Chief, 3 Task Force Captains, and 4 Sergeants. In addition to their credentials as firefighters, many members of the Department are also trained as First Responders, EMT’s, & Paramedics.

All active Fire Department members are required to attend training sessions and respond to incidents as per the Suggested Operating Guidelines. 2 regularly scheduled training classes are held each month. Additional courses are also offered throughout the year for specialty training in topics such as extrication, first responder, hazardous materials, pump operation, and the like. Officer level classes are provided yearly at state and national fire academies. Advanced medical classes are offered at State of Tennessee schools or agencies.

All Fire Department emergency calls are received via the E911 system at central dispatch in Ashland City and toned out to our department via high-band radio. Both pagers and hand-held radios are used for communication purposes.