Over the next few articles, Captain Jeff Bagwell will introduce you to the people who make up Rural Metro Fire. Rural Metro is a private fire department that’s served most of Knox County on a contractual basis with individual property owners for 40 years. Rural Metro Fire operates 16 (soon to be 17) fire stations in Knox County and provides ALS (Advanced Life Support) first responder services to county residents. If you are not a supporter or subscriber of Rural Metro Fire, now is the time. Call Member Services at 560-0239 to get signed up.
Halls Station 230 Red Shift Crew: This crew boasts years of experience as these guys have been with Rural Metro Fire for a long time.
Randy Wilson has been with Rural Metro since 1996. Randy began as a live-in at the Powell Station 31 and, when hired full-time, began his career with Rural Metro at the Halls Station. A brief period away from Halls landed him in the Gibbs community where he helped give the station a face lift on the inside. Then it was back to Halls where he answers calls for service today. Randy is a seasoned paramedic, also spending time on an ambulance in Knox County and Gatlinburg part-time, as well as working as a reserve deputy for Knox County. Randy is all in, when it comes to serving his community. Randy has lived in Halls for nine years
Logan Flehan is the youngster, having started his career with Rural Metro in 2010. Logan started with the Heiskell VFD. He lives in Halls with his daughter and is also an emergency medical technician. Logan has served in Gibbs, Corryton and now Halls. He loves the call volume that Halls has, and he enjoys making a difference in people’s lives.
Jerome Rood has been with Rural Metro Fire since 1988. Jerome has worked as a firefighter/EMT at many stations around Knox County from Farragut to East Knox County to Halls. Jerome has served as a lieutenant, and now battalion chief on Red Shift North. Jerome’s wife also works for Rural Metro as a firefighter/paramedic, so they truly bring the family affair to the fire department. Both of his brothers served as firefighters and later officers with the fire department, and now his nephew is working as a firefighter/EMT with Rural Metro. Jerome has enjoyed seeing our department grow into the organization we have become, changing lives every day.
2018 Female Fire Camp: Rural Metro is seeking 20 young women (ages 17-25) to participate in the third annual fire camp, set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, March 12-13, at 10140 Gallows Point. The fire camp is designed to expose young women to careers in fire service. Info: Brooke Brata at 865-607-2787 or Lori.Pierotti@ruralmetrofire.com
Captain Jeff Bagwell is the public information officer for Rural Metro Fire. He writes this column for Knox TN Today each month.