Pittman Center Volunteer Fire Department to continue operating while ironing out arrangement with town, Sevier County
The previous deadline was the end of October, and no one will see any disruptions in service through at least July 1, 2027, the new deadline.
What This Story Is About
- Sevier County, Pittman Center and the Pittman Center Community Volunteer Fire Department have delayed the deadline for ironing out details of the department’s continued service.
Why It Matters
- Sevier County representatives confirmed that service would continue as the bodies continued to discuss a permanent solution to the department’s concerns.
What Happens Next
- The previous deadline was the end of October, and no one will see any disruptions in service through at least July 1, 2027, the new deadline.
For Context
- It marks the latest update in an ongoing saga with the volunteer fire department at the forefront.
SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) - Sevier County, Pittman Center and the Pittman Center Community Volunteer Fire Department have delayed the deadline for ironing out details of the department’s continued service. The previous deadline was the end of October, and no one will see any disruptions in service through at least July 1, 2027, the new deadline.
It marks the latest update in an ongoing saga with the volunteer fire department at the forefront.
“Over the past several months, representatives from all three entities have participated in productive discussions regarding the operational, financial and organizational needs of fire service within the community,” an announcement from Sevier County’s Tyler Basler said. “While progress has been made, all parties agree that additional time is needed to fully evaluate options and develop a solution that best serves the residents of Pittman Center and the surrounding area.”
Basler confirmed that service would continue as the bodies continued to discuss a permanent solution to the department’s concerns.
“We appreciate the cooperation and willingness of everyone involved to continue these discussions,” said Tammy Watts, Town Administrator for the Town of Pittman Center. “The town remains open to exploring solutions and is committed to participating in a manner that helps us reach an outcome that best serves our residents and supports continued fire protection for our community.”
Watts’ thanks were echoed by Bryan McCarter, Sevier County’s mayor.
“These discussions have been positive and productive, and we appreciate the partnership of both the Town of Pittman Center and the Pittman Center Community Volunteer Fire Department,” McCarter said. “Our priority is ensuring that residents continue to receive dependable fire protection and emergency response services. We remain committed to working through this process together and finding a long-term solution that serves the community well.”
The Pittman Center Volunteer Fire Department announced in June it would be ceasing operations on Oct. 31. The announcement cited safety concerns for firefighters, a resource the department said was becoming harder to come by.
“This difficult decision is driven entirely by critical, ongoing deficiencies in volunteer staffing,” the June 30 announcement said. “Despite extensive recruitment and retention efforts, current staffing levels consistently fall short of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) safety standards.”
At the time, Pittman Center VFD requested a merger between the volunteer department and Sevier County’s own fire and rescue squads. Since then, the three bodies — Sevier County, the Pittman Center VFD board and the town itself — have discussed back and forth possible solutions.
About 75% of the area Pittman Center VFD serves is unincorporated county land. The remainder of those the department serves live in Pittman Center. That said, the split of calls sits at about 50/50 between the town’s residents and those who live in the county.
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