Sharps Chapel Volunteer Fire Department would like recognize Firefighters Dustin Ray, Jonathan Blanton and Michael Scraggs for recently attending Live Burn Fire Training Classes at the Tennessee Fire School Codes and Training Academy. Chief Upton said he is proud of these three members for their hard work and dedication along with all of the members of the department as they continue to improve training in the department to better serve the community. Upton said more members are scheduled to attend classes at the State Fire Academy later this year.
On Wednesday morning, June 10, 2020 around 4:53 am the Sharps Chapel Fire Department was dispatched to a 1 vehicle accident on Sharps Chapel Road at Leadmine Bend Road. The caller had told dispatchers a vehicle had ran into the lake.
When Emergency units arrived on the scene, they found the driver had made it out of the vehicle safe and sound, but the car was submerged in the lake. The driver was checked by Union County EMS and refused treatment or transport reporting no injuries.
SCVFD Engine 54 stood by at the scene until cleared by Tennessee Highway Patrol who worked the accident. The vehicle was pulled from the lake later that morning.
Two Sharps Chapel Volunteer Fire Department members recently graduated from the 112 hour Basic Recruit Firefighter Training Program that was held in Maynardville the past few months. We would like to recognize Jonathan Blanton and Michael Scraggs for their dedication and hard work in taking the class. The class was taught at Maynardville Fire Department and sponsored by the Union County Fire Chief’s Association. We would like to thank Instructor Charles Wilson, Daniel Rice and Ryan Lloyd for helping conduct the class. The 2 Sharps Chapel members attended class with members from Luttrell and Andersonville Fire Departments and are planning to attend the Live Burn Training held at the State Fire School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. Chief Upton and all of the members of SCVFD would like to Thank and Congratulate Jonathan and Michael for their hard work.
The Sharps Chapel Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched by Union County 911 to a reported vehicle accident on Leadmine Bend Road near Shoffner Road. The call came in on Memorial Day, Monday May 25, 2020 around 4:56pm. Rescue 51 responded to the scene and arrived first to find a vehicle that had ran off the roadway and was partially in the lake. Firefighters quickly checked in and around the vehicle and were unable to locate the driver or any passengers in the vehicle. Union County Sheriff’s Department arrived on scene and did the report. SCVFD stood by at the scene until the vehicle was pulled from the embankment and the roadway cleared, then returned back to service.
Three firefighters from the Sharps Chapel Volunteer Fire Department recently attended a Pump Operations Class, sponsored by Roane County Office of Emergency Services and Homeland Security.
The two day weekend class that was held May 16 and 17, consisted of both classroom and field work. A total of 16 students from area departments attended the class taught through the Tennessee Fire School by Instructor Scott McLeay.
Firefighters were taught how to properly operate the pumps on fire engines, how to pump from a fire hydrant, use of strainers and dump tanks and priming for suction. They also learned how to properly check off the trucks for maintenance and proper staging of the vehicles during emergency scenes.
Sharps Chapel Firefighters Dustin Ray, Matthew Dykes and Rich Zerbey said they enjoyed the class and learned a lot. The trio said they enjoyed meeting with and working with the members of other departments from different areas. They also wanted to thank Instructor McLeay.
SCVFD Chief Chris Upton said he wanted to thank the members for taking the time to attend the class. Upton said dedicated Volunteers are becoming harder to find and he appreciates their dedication and hard work to help make the department better. Upton said several other members of the department including these 3 have scheduled other training classes coming up later this year as we continue to better our department.
Sharps Chapel Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a 2 vehicle accident on Sharps Chapel Road near Palmers Junction Road on Friday, February 14, 2020 around 10:46 pm. SCVFD Command 5 and Engine 54 responded to the scene to find both vehicles had struck each other in a head-on collision , a female from the Mazda Car was taken to the hospital by Union County EMS to be treated for minor injuries sustained from the accident. The driver of the white Chevy S10 had fled the scene on foot, but was later located by Union County Deputies in the wooded area near Highway 33 and he was taken into custody and later transported by Union County EMS to an area hospital to be treated for injuries from the accident.
The roadway was shut down for a little over an hour as crews cleared the scene and Tennessee Highway Patrol Investigated the accident. Once the roadway was cleared all SCVFD units returned back in service.
Sharps Chapel Volunteer Fire Department along with the Tennessee Division of Forestry visited Sharps Chapel Elementary school on November 6, 2019. Firefighters spent time with each class teaching them about fire safety in the home while the Tennessee Division of Forestry gave some fire prevention tips to the kids. The kids got to meet not one, but two special visitors. Smokey the Bear was able to stop in for a visit with the kids along with Sparky the Fire Dog. This was Sparky the Fire Dog’s debut trip to Sharps Chapel.
Chief Upton would like to thank the Tennessee Division of Forestry and the staff at Sharps Chapel School. Our department looks forward to visiting the kids every year.
A man and his 11 year old Grandson were pulled to safety on Saturday, October 26, 2019 after they fell off the side of a bluff while they were hunting during the early morning hours. Sharps Chapel Volunteer Fire Department was alerted of the incident at 7:35am on Saturday morning. SCVFD Rescue 51 and Engine 54 responded to 521 Big Sinks Road in Sharps Chapel where they met a man who was called by the hunter in need of help. Units from the Union County Rescue Squad also responded to the scene. SCVFD first arriving units began searching for the man and his grandson which were located in a bout 20 minutes after they began searching.
Apparently the man and grandson were walking along the rocky bluff when the slipped and fell down a very steep embankment. The fall was between 100 to 150 feet. The 2 hunters reportedly attempted to climb out, but got in an even worse location on the side of the steep cliff. A SCVFD Cadet managed to walk in from the side of the ridge and eventually get to the 2 victims and give a report. The older man reportedly was complaining of leg and back pains, they were unable to get out. SCVFD units set up a low angle rope recovery and lowered down a Union County EMS Paramedic to assess the victims. The 11 year old boy was harnessed and pulled to safety, he was found to have no injuries. The Paramedic and Cadet stayed with the older male until other help arrived. It was determined to wait for further assistance as the man was not suffering from life threatening injuries.
A team from Knoxville Volunteer Rescue Squad was called for and responded to the scene. After they arrived and set up a larger scale operation, the man and other rescuers were lifted to safety. The male victim was checked out by EMS for minor injuries and he refused transport to the hospital. Chief Upton said he was very grateful that none of the victims or rescuers received any major injuries from this incident and that everyone worked very well together throughout the nearly 5 hour operation. Upton said he would also like to thank the team from Knoxville Rescue Squad for their assistance. The area where the incident took place is on TVA Property near Monks Corner at the Powell River.
On Wednesday, October 23, 2019 around 1:35pm Union County 911 Dispatch received a call about a male subject having chest pains at 401 Oak Grove Road in Sharps Chapel. Union County EMS was dispatched to the scene. Once EMS arrived they found that the male subject had actually had a trama incident in the woods near the residence. Apparently he had been out in the woods earlier and cut a tree that kicked back on him and knocked him unconcious. When he came alert he was unaware of what had happened, but had serious injuries. EMS called for Lifestar to air lift the patient to UT Hospital due to his severe injuries. SCVFD Engine 51 responded to the intersection of Oak Grove Road and Brantley Road and set up a landing zone for Lifestar. SCVFD assisted the med unit to move the patient to Lifestar and then returned back in service.
On Saturday, October 19, 2019 around 6:20pm Sharps Chapel VFD was dispatched to a one vehicle accident on Sharps Chapel Road near Shelby Loop in the New Tazewell portion of our district. Rescue 51 responded to the scene to find a one vehicle accident with no entrapment and minor injury reported by the driver. Union County EMS arrived an scene and checked the female driver who was checked out at the scene and refused transport. SCVFD units stood by on scene for traffic control until the accident was cleared. Tennessee Highway Patrol worked the accident.
In need of a smoke detector? Call Station 51 at 865-278-3231. If no answer, please leave a message. We will get back with you ASAP.
Union County E911 Dispatching Center
Any non-emergency calls can be directed to our dispatching center located at 130 veteran Street, Maynardville, Tennessee 37807. Our dispatching center is open 24/7 365 and is happy to assist you with any questions you may have.
Contact Tennessee Forestry Division at 865-278-3348 for burn permits or visit their website at BurnSafeTN.
Think Before You Burn
PLANNING CAN MAKE YOUR DEBRIS BURNING SAFER
Checklist
-Obtain A Burn Permit
-Call your local TN Division of Forestry Office to get a permit between October 15 and May 15.
-Notify Your Neighbors
-Establish Firebreaks
-Watch The Weather
-Control The Fire
-Stay With Your Fire
-Don’t leave your fire until it is completely out and cold.
