Unionville TN Volunteer Fire Department

10/16/2026

🔥 ATTENTION TENNESSEE RESIDENTS! BURN PERMIT SEASON IS HERE! 🔥

Just a friendly reminder to everyone in Bedford County and across Tennessee!

As of October 15, Tennessee’s annual burn permit season is officially underway and will continue through May 15, 2027.

Under Tennessee law, anyone conducting open burning within 500 feet of forests, grasslands, or woodlands must obtain a burn permit when required. This includes burning leaves, brush, limbs, and other natural vegetation.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU BURN WITHOUT A PERMIT?

Under Tennessee Code Annotated 39-14-306, burning without a required permit is a Class C misdemeanor.

Penalties can include:

* A fine of up to $50.
* Up to 30 days in jail.
* Additional court costs.

Violating an official state-issued burn ban is a more serious offense and can result in a Class A misdemeanor, carrying penalties of up to $2,500 in fines and/or 11 months and 29 days in jail.

HOW DO YOU OBTAIN A BURN PERMIT?

The good news is that Tennessee burn permits are absolutely FREE!

Apply online:
www.BurnSafeTN.org

Or call the Tennessee Division of Forestry:

1-877-350-2876 (1-877-350-BURN)

Permits are generally issued for the day you plan to burn, depending on weather conditions and fire danger. Local restrictions may also apply.

If you’re in Bedford County and have any questions, feel free to contact the Bedford County Fire Department at 931-684-9223.

A FEW IMPORTANT SAFETY REMINDERS:

* Never leave a fire unattended.
* Keep water and firefighting tools nearby.
* Avoid burning during windy or extremely dry conditions.
* Make sure your fire is completely extinguished.
* Never burn household trash, tires, plastics, or other prohibited materials.

A PERSONAL NOTE FROM 44 YEARS IN THE FIRE SERVICE

Having spent 44 years with the Unionville Volunteer Fire Department (UVFD), and having fought hundreds of brush and grass fires over those years, I believe this is valuable information that much of our community may not be aware of.

As a volunteer firefighter, I’ve witnessed firsthand just how quickly a small brush fire can turn into something much more serious. What starts as a simple effort to burn a brush pile or clean up around the farm can quickly get out of control, threatening homes, barns, livestock, and neighboring properties.

Our volunteer firefighters have responded to countless fires over the years, often leaving their families, jobs, and personal responsibilities behind to protect the property and lives of others.

The purpose of sharing this information isn’t to discourage anyone from burning brush or cleaning up their property. It’s simply to educate our community about Tennessee’s burn permit requirements and remind everyone how important fire safety really is.

Remember, obtaining a burn permit costs absolutely nothing, but failing to obtain one could cost you a whole lot more!

Please share this information with your friends and neighbors. A little education and prevention can go a long way toward protecting our community and the firefighters who serve it!

Stay safe, Tennessee!

Find out how to obtain a debris burning permit in Tennessee. Follow TN Wildland Fire guidelines to ensure safe and responsible burning practices.

10/10/2026

Just as a sidenote. We understand, the timeline within the story may not be exact. Just remember, most of this information is coming directly from memory from three of our founding members. And, most of these memories are at least 40+ years old. So, there may be some slight discrepancies. But, the overall article sends the message just how far we have come in the last 44 years.

As the Unionville Volunteer Fire Department continues its dedication to serving and protecting our community, we also want the people we serve to understand something very important. What you see before you today did not come easy!

Our journey began 44 years ago, back in 1982. Many of the people living in our community today weren’t even here when it all started. Our community has grown and evolved over the years, and so has our fire department. But one thing we never want to do is forget where we came from and what it took to get us where we are today!

The UVFD has a rich history, filled with blood, sweat, tears, determination, and countless hours of hard work. It all started with a vision shared by a core group of dedicated individuals who were willing to take a chance and accomplish something that had never been done before in Bedford County.

Not only did the Unionville Volunteer Fire Department become the county’s original volunteer fire department, but many of the other volunteer fire departments that followed used our department as a blueprint to get their own organizations started!

Think about that for a moment!

We’re certainly proud of the opportunity to serve and protect our own community. But we’re equally proud to know that the groundwork laid by our founding members helped influence the development of other volunteer fire departments throughout Bedford County. Their vision didn’t just benefit Unionville. It helped pave the way for better fire protection across our entire county!

And that’s a legacy worth remembering!

Today, our department is nearly twice as old as some of the firefighters currently serving within its ranks! That’s a pretty remarkable thought when you consider just how much history has taken place over those 44 years.

We encourage everyone to take a few minutes and read this wonderful article from Good News Shelbyville. It provides just a small snapshot of how our department got its start back in 1982 and the people who helped make it possible.

And we’re asking one more favor. PLEASE SHARE THIS ARTICLE!

Whether you’ve lived in Unionville your entire life or just recently moved into our community, we believe it’s important to understand the history behind the department that stands ready to answer your call for help.

Buildings, trucks, equipment, and personnel may change over the years, but the foundation of this department was built by people who cared enough about their neighbors to make a difference.

We should never forget them, their sacrifices, or the legacy they left behind!

A special thank-you to our friends at Good News Shelbyville for putting together such a wonderful article highlighting the history of the Unionville Volunteer Fire Department!

44 years of history, dedication, sacrifice, and community service. And we’re still going strong!

The raging fire popped and hissed as it devoured the first floor. Flames licked the windows along the second story. One by one, the windows shattered, sending shards of glass onto the rose bushes …

09/30/2026

Due to extreme dry temperatures. We are asking that you do not burn anything until we have gotten some rain. Rain is expected this weekend but at least till then we ask that there is no open burning.

09/24/2026

This post was from last year. However, the general consensus of the post remains the same. As we yet again, start our family portrait fundraising. You can use the same information for reference. If you should have any questions, you can reach out to Taylor with the company we work with, or the station Facebook as well. Between the two organizations, we can do our very best to satisfy your questions and needs. Thanks again to everyone for your support. Also, please share and pass the word along as well. 

09/24/2026

Our annual picture fundraiser has started. The picture company will be in the area canvassing from door to door. If you have any questions please message the fire department page and we will answer any questions you may have.

07/05/2026

As Independence Day 2026 slowly comes to a close, the Unionville Volunteer Fire Department would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our community and to the many others who came out to our station and purchased their fireworks from us this year.

We asked for your support, and you did far more than support us — you showed out! In fact, you all completely sold us out of fireworks before 8:00 PM this evening! Even during uncertain economic times, you once again stepped up in a huge way and helped make this another banner year for our department.

To everyone who supported our annual fireworks fundraiser, thank you. Your support directly benefits our department and allows us to continue serving our community.

We also want to give special recognition to Chief Jim White and Assistant Chief Daniel Lambert. These two gentlemen have carried the torch for our annual fireworks fundraiser and have done an outstanding job. They have invested countless hours preparing, researching products, organizing inventory, and making sure this event runs smoothly year after year.

Of course, this fundraiser would not be possible without the dedication of our volunteers and their families, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make it all happen. Because of your efforts and the support of our community, we are able to continue providing the services and resources that our citizens depend on.

So once again, thank you all for making Independence Day 2026 another successful year for the Unionville Volunteer Fire Department. We appreciate each and every one of you, and we are already looking forward to seeing everyone again next year!

01/11/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DLwLkZXsF/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🔥 HELP DEASON BUILD THEIR STATION 🔥

The Deason Volunteer Fire Department is proud to serve our community, and now we’re asking for your support! We’re hosting a Boston Butt Fundraiser to help raise funds toward building our fire station—so we can better serve and protect our neighbors.

🍖 Boston Butts – $50 each

📅 Order by January 31st

📍 Pickup: Saturday, February 7th | 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM

🏠 Deason Community Center

📍 3401 Hwy 231 North, Shelbyville

Every purchase goes directly toward improving our department and ensuring we’re ready when our community needs us most. Thank you for supporting your local volunteer firefighters! ❤️🚒

💰 Venmo: -Volunteers

📞 In-person payments: 931-580-4992