Surgoinsville Fire Department

10/05/2026

A message from Fire Chief Shane Suthers
After much thought and consideration, I have made the decision to step away from my position as Fire Chief of the Town of Surgoinsville Fire Department, effective October 31, 2026.
For nearly 22 years, I have had the privilege of serving this department, including the last 10 years as Fire Chief. Serving this community alongside such dedicated volunteer firefighters has been one of the greatest honors of my life.
This decision was not made lightly. Over the years, this role has required countless hours away from home and many missed opportunities with my family. I believe the time has come for me to step back, spend more time with those who have supported me throughout this journey, and allow new leadership to guide the department into its next chapter.
I am incredibly proud of what our all-volunteer department has accomplished through its commitment to emergency response, public safety, training, professionalism, and service to our community and local industries. Most of all, I am grateful for the men and women who volunteer their time to protect the lives and property of others.
Although I am stepping away as Fire Chief, I am not stepping away from the fire department family. It is my desire to continue serving and supporting the department and our community as a Firefighter/Lifetime Member.
Thank you to our community, our firefighters, and especially my family for the trust, encouragement, sacrifices, and support you have given me throughout the years.
The memories and relationships built during this journey, both through the good times and the difficult ones, will stay with me forever.
It has truly been an honor to serve as your Fire Chief.
Thank you, Surgoinsville.

10/02/2026

09/30/2026

SFD would like to wish our Firefighter Jackson Barrett a Happy Birthday!

09/22/2026

🚨 PLEASE SLOW DOWN AND MOVE OVER 🚨
Surgoinsville Fire Department asks everyone to please keep the members of the Kingsport Fire Department and Sullivan County EMS in your thoughts and prayers after they were struck while working an emergency scene. Please also remember their families, coworkers, and departments during this difficult time.
Incidents like this hit close to home for all of us in the emergency services. Every time firefighters, EMS personnel, law enforcement officers, and rescue personnel step out of an apparatus along a roadway, we are exposed to the very real danger of passing traffic.
We cannot express this enough:
PLEASE SLOW DOWN AND MOVE OVER when approaching emergency vehicles with their emergency lights activated.
From all of us at Surgoinsville Fire Department, our thoughts and prayers are with our brothers and sisters at Kingsport Fire Department and Sullivan County EMS, along with their families, coworkers.
We are praying for quick healing, strength, and a full recovery for everyone involved.

At approximately 10:00 p.m. last night, members of the Kingsport Fire Department were operating on Interstate 26 Westbound at the scene of a motor vehicle accident when a secondary crash occurred behind the original incident.

Kingsport firefighters and personnel from Sullivan County EMS immediately went to the secondary crash to check for injuries and provide assistance. While emergency personnel were loading a patient into an ambulance, a vehicle traveling westbound struck three Kingsport firefighters and one Sullivan County EMS EMT, injuring all four emergency responders.

All four personnel were transported to Johnson City Medical Center for evaluation and treatment. Two have since been treated and released. Two remain hospitalized this morning with injuries that are considered non-life-threatening.

We are extremely thankful that the injuries sustained by our firefighters and our partner from Sullivan County EMS were not more serious. Our thoughts and prayers remain with all four responders, their families, and everyone involved in this incident as they recover.

This incident is also a sobering reminder of the dangers firefighters, EMS personnel, law enforcement officers, tow operators, and highway workers face while operating along our roadways. We ask every driver to slow down, move over, remain alert, and give emergency personnel the space they need to safely perform their duties.

We appreciate the concern and prayers that have already been expressed for our personnel and our partners at Sullivan County EMS. We ask that you continue to keep everyone involved in your thoughts and prayers.

Fire Chief Jerry DeBerry
Kingsport Fire Department

09/20/2026

A couple of our members visited Church Hill Middle School for their CTE program. Thank you CHMS for allowing us to be a part of your day. Our members had a fantastic time!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19SS5itJiy/

09/11/2026

🇺🇸 NEVER FORGET — SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 🇺🇸
Today, Surgoinsville Fire Department pauses to remember the nearly 3,000 innocent lives lost on September 11, 2001.
We remember the firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and countless other heroes who ran toward the danger while others were running away. We remember the sacrifices they made and the families who never got the chance to say goodbye.
Twenty-five years later, the pain of that day remains, but so does the courage, sacrifice, and unity that followed.
As firefighters, we carry their memory with us every time we answer the call.
We remember. We honor. We will never forget.
🇺🇸 Never Forget 9/11.
🚒 Surgoinsville Fire Department
God Bless America. 🇺🇸

08/17/2026

The Surgoinsville Volunteer Fire Department is grateful to Atmos Energy for its generous $1,000 donation in support of our department and the services we provide to the community. Contributions like this help strengthen our ability to respond to emergencies, maintain equipment, and continue protecting the citizens of Surgoinsville and the surrounding areas.
We sincerely appreciate Atmos Energy's commitment to community safety and its support of local first responders. Partnerships like these play an important role in helping volunteer fire departments meet the needs of the communities they serve.
On behalf of our members and the residents we protect, thank you, Atmos Energy, for your generosity and support.

08/07/2026

The Surgoinsville Fire Department is proud to announce that our new Quick Attack Fire Apparatus has officially been placed into service. This valuable addition to our fleet will enhance our ability to respond quickly and effectively to fires, medical emergencies, and other incidents throughout our community.

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to FEMA for its support in helping make this important investment possible. We also thank the Town of Surgoinsville Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA) for their continued support of our department and commitment to public safety.

This new apparatus represents a significant step forward in our mission to protect the lives and property of the citizens we serve. We are honored by the trust placed in us and remain dedicated to providing the highest level of emergency service to our community.

Shane Suthers
Fire Chief

07/10/2026

**Town of Surgoinsville Fire Department Announces Improved ISO Rating**

The Town of Surgoinsville Fire Department is proud to announce that, following its recent Insurance Services Office (ISO) evaluation, the department has achieved an improved Public Protection Classification (PPC) rating of **4/4Y**.

This accomplishment reflects the continued dedication, training, and professionalism of our volunteer firefighters, as well as the strong support provided by town leadership, emergency response partners, and the community we serve. The ISO rating evaluates key areas including fire department capabilities, water supply, emergency communications, and overall fire protection services.

Receiving a **4/4Y classification** demonstrates the department’s commitment to maintaining high standards of fire protection and emergency response. This achievement is a direct result of the hard work and cooperation of our personnel and partners who continuously strive to enhance public safety.

The Town of Surgoinsville Fire Department remains committed to providing exceptional service to our residents, businesses, and visitors. We are proud of this accomplishment and will continue working to further strengthen our emergency services and community protection efforts.

We thank our volunteer firefighters, elected officials, and citizens for their ongoing support as we continue to serve and protect the Town of Surgoinsville.

06/27/2026

The members of the Surgoinsville Fire Department extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences for a former member of the Striggersville Fire Department and Rogersville Fire Department.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, the men and women of the Fire Department, and everyone whose life was touched by this dedicated individual. During this difficult time, we stand beside our brothers and sisters in the fire service and ask our community to keep them all in your prayers.
Rest easy, brother. Your service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Hawkins County 911 is saddened to learn of the passing of Jimmy “Rufus” Hayes, Sr., a dedicated member of the Hawkins County fire service.

Rufus devoted his life to serving the citizens of Hawkins County through the Rogersville Volunteer Fire Department and the Striggersville Volunteer Fire Department. In 1974, he played a vital role in founding the Striggersville Volunteer Fire Department and faithfully served as its Fire Chief for 45 years. He also dedicated more than 44 years of service to the Rogersville Fire Department, helping shape generations of firefighters through his leadership, knowledge, and commitment to the fire service.

Rufus’s legacy of service and leadership left a lasting impact on the Hawkins County fire service. We are grateful for his decades of dedication to protecting our communities and for the example he set for generations of firefighters.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Rufus’s family, friends, and the members of the Rogersville and Striggersville Fire Departments during this difficult time.

Rest easy, Chief. Thank you for a lifetime of service to Hawkins County.