Sharps Chapel Volunteer Fire Department

Last Year a Union County resident, Tom Fitzharris of TK’S Gourmet Food Wagon decided he wanted to help the local fire departments and rescue squad here in Union County. Tom’s son had recently passed away and he was a member of Seymour Fire Department. Tom said he wanted to do this fund drive in memory of his son. Tom got with several other businesses in the county and set up certain days this past Fall for the fund drive where everyone contributed a portion of money raised that day. Tom then went to ask for the County Commission to match the funds he raised and they approved the request.

The total amount of funds raised turned out to be about $4,000.00 for each department in the county.

SCVFD purchased the following tools and equipment: 1 – Dual Range Forestry Nozzle, 6 – Forestry Helmet Head Lamps, 1 – Stokes Basket Cover, 1 – Ladderman Patient Rescue Harness, 2 – Halegen Bars, 6 – Wildland Hose Packs, 1 – Milwalkee 16 inch Battery Powered Chain Saw, 1 – Milwalkee 9inch Cut off Saw with extra Battery and Charger, 1 – Milwalkee Saws-All Kit with extra Battery and Charger, 1 – Milwalkee Rocket Light Tower with Battery and Charger.

Chief Chris Upton said this much needed equipment will be carried on our trucks and will be greatly beneficial during rescue situations. This donation helped the department use funds in other needed areas that our budget would normally not be able to cover. Upton also said he and the firefighters were greatly appreciative to Mr. Fitzharris and the other local businesses involved with helping with this fund drive and a big thanks to the County Commission for their extra funding and support.

Pictured above is Lt. Dustin Ray of Sharps Chapel Volunteer Fire Department with the new Mini Crash Kit won this past Fall at the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads Convention held October 3-5, 2024 in Pigeon Forge.

Lt. Ray entered the fire department name in the raffle drawing that was held by SAFE Industries and was later notified that the department won the kit. The new kit will be carried on the department’s rescue truck to be used with other tools the department has for vehicle accidents and entrapments.

 Just before Christmas on Saturday, December 14, 2024, members of the Sharps Chapel Volunteer Fire Department met with kids and parents that were chosen through school staff at the Wal-Mart in New Tazewell for the 5th Annual SCVFD Shop with a Firefighter.

This year 10 kids were chosen and allotted $150.00 for the shopping spree, $100.00 in clothing items and $50.00 in toys.

Chief Chris Upton said he and the other firefighters always looked forward to this event each year. “Knowing that these families are being helped and the look on the kids faces are worth it all” said, Upton.

The Sharps Chapel VFD hopes everyone had a Very Merry Christmas and Wish Everyone a Happy New Year!

The Sharps Chapel Volunteer Fire Department recently purchased four (4) new Scott Self Contained Breathing Apparatus’s and eight (8) new air bottles for their department.

The funds for the new equipment came from a state grant that the department applied for last year. Chief Chris Upton said the department was awarded approx. $38,000 through the grant to purchase the much needed equipment for the firefighters.

The SCBA’s are used by firefighters to wear while fighting fire to keep from breathing smoke and to keep the firefighters safe. Chief Upton said the department now has all of their SCBA’s matching on all of their trucks and they are all compatible with each other.

Upton also said their department is very grateful to receive these needed grants to help purchase equipment and gear for the firefighters. He said the firefighter equipment and gear they use is marked up with very high prices and it’s hard for small volunteer departments to afford to purchase things needed to operate with and keep the firefighters safe. These grants help a lot, Upton said.