Dear Reader:
The following document was created from the MTAS website (www.mtas.tennessee.edu). This website is maintained daily by MTAS staff and seeks to represent the most current information regarding issues relative to Tennessee municipal government.
We hope this information will be useful to you; reference to it will assist you with many of the questions that will arise in your tenure with municipal government. However, the Tennessee Code Annotated and other relevant laws or regulations should always be consulted before any action is taken based upon the contents of this document.
Please feel free to contact us if you have questions or comments regarding this information or any other MTAS website material.
Sincerely,
The University of Tennessee
Municipal Technical Advisory Service
1610 University Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37921-6741
865-974-0411 phone
865-974-0423 fax
www.mtas.tennessee.edu
Fire Department Recognition Bill
Senate Bill 887 and House Bill 727
(Strongly endorsed and supported by the TN Fire Chiefs Association)
1. Why do we need this new law?
Answer: At least three reasons: (A) There is nothing in Tennessee law to prevent another fire department from starting up right in the middle of an existing fire departments’ territory, (B) There have been several instances where a “fire department” chartered as a non-profit corporation in Tennessee, raised lots of money, but never provided any fire protection, and (C) Conflicts between fire departments over territory boundaries are very common and there is currently no method to resolve these differences.
2. How will this new law affect an existing fire department?
Answer: An existing fire department will have to fill out the proper forms and send in a registration fee (of up to $50) once every third year.
3. How will this new law affect a group that would want to start up a new fire department somewhere in the State of Tennessee?
Answer: The new fire department would have to: (A) Fill out the proper forms, (B) Pay the registration fee, (C) Have the approval of the City or County in which it will operate, (D) Have a definite geographic area for which it will provide fire protection, and (E) Have the minimum equipment and training as defined in the law.
4. How much will this new law cost an existing fire department?
Answer: $50 every third year.
5. Why does a fire department have to re-certify every three years?
Answer: This is designed to protect legitimate fire departments from those who may stop providing fire protection. In addition, this provides a simple way for the State of Tennessee to maintain a current list of fire departments and their correct addresses and other information for contact purposes.
6. Why were the minimum standards for a new fire department set so low?
Answer: The minimum standards were set at 1,000 GPM of pump capacity at 120 psi and a water tank of 250 gallons. This is the minimum size of pumper that ISO will recognize as a fire department. This law was not intended to put any fire department out of business, only to protect legitimate fire departments and the public from being a victim of fraud.
Links:
[1] https://www.mtas.tennessee.edu/kb-authors/tennessee-fire-chiefs-association
[2] https://www.mtas.tennessee.edu/system/files/knowledgebase/original/Fire%20Department%20Recognition%20Bill.pdf
DISCLAIMER: The letters and publications written by the MTAS consultants were written based upon the law at the time and/or a specific sets of facts. The laws referenced in the letters and publications may have changed and/or the technical advice provided may not be applicable to your city or circumstances. Always consult with your city attorney or an MTAS consultant before taking any action based on information contained in this website.
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