Sharps Chapel Volunteer Fire 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.

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.

The Sharps Chapel Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a off road ATV accident near 225 Timber Ridge Road in the Norris Shores area of Sharps Chapel around 11:18 pm on Saturday, September 28, 2019.

SCVFD units responded in Rescue 51 and Engine 54 to 225 Timber Ridge Road where they were flagged down by a male subject who advised two females were injured from an ATV accident. Two females were riding in the front seat of the side by side ATV and two males were riding in the back. Firefighters followed the male subject who led them by foot through the woods approximately 1/2 mile off the roadway up a steep ridge where the off road ATV trail was located. Firefighters were also assisted by members of the Union County Rescue Squad who arrived on the scene to assist in extricating the victims from the woodland for medical care. The two males and one female passenger was ejected from the ATV. The driver was reported as trapped in the ATV but was able to free herself before fire units arrived. The first crew of rescuers arrived on the scene and evaluated both female patients and stabilized them on the scene. The two males were checked on scene and did not have any injuries. Deputy Chief Mason Simpson of the SCVFD responded to the scene with a side by side ATV unit and transported a Union County EMS Medic to the scene. Other rescuers were taken to the scene with equipment and the decision was made to carry both patients out by foot to the Med Unit.

Chief Chris Upton of the SCVFD advised that both patients had possible fractured arms and several cuts and abrasions, but did not appear to have life threatening injuries. Both victims were transported by Union County EMS to UT Hospital to be treated. Emergency units were on scene for nearly 2 hours finding and extricating both patients to safety. The accident was under investigation by the Union County Sheriff’s Department. Chief Upton said that it appeared the driver lost control of the ATV on the steep trail and it rolled and flipped into a tree off of the trail. Upton also said he would like to commend both the SCVFD and UCRS for their work during this rescue operation.

A 23 year old female was injured on Saturday, August 24 around 8:00pm when the ATV side by side she was riding lost control and ran off the roadway striking a tree. She was riding with others on ATV’s in the area when the accident took place.

The accident took place in the Chuck Swan Forest and Wildlife Management Area in Sharps Chapel. The accident scene was on the Main Forest Road near Mossy Springs Road.

Union County 911 alerted emergency units from the Sharps Chapel Volunteer Fire Department and Union County Rescue Squad who responded to the scene, the female patient suffered a serious head injury and was transported by Union County EMS to Sharps Chapel Park, where she was then airlifted to UT Hospital by Lifestar.

The accident was investigated by TWRA and THP.

*Pictured above SCVFD units set up Landing Zone at Sharps Chapel Community Park for Lifestar