Expanding fire protection

Station needs 12 new firefighters casey@theheraldnewspapers.com The City of Sevierville is moving forward with plans to improve the Sevierville Fire Department’s (SFD) capacity to protect its citizens from the risk of fire, beginning with a new SFD substation on Collier Drive. “The city plans, over the next several years, to build a couple more stations,” said Sevierville’s Director of Planning and Development Jim Bryant. Bryant will present a site plan for the substation to the city planning commission today, at its regular monthly meeting. The substation will be on the new section of Collier Drive in the southern area of the city. This road project to connect the Parkway with Middle Creek Road is slightly behind schedule, but has a projected completion date of mid-July, said Sevierville Public Information Officer Bob Stahlke. SFD Chief Mike Rawlings confirmed the expansion plans, adding that future goals call for similar stations to be built in Kodak, the Old Knoxville Highway area, as well as in the eastern reaches of the city limits. The new substation will be on a smaller scale as compared to SFD’s main station on Prince Street. Plans show a two-bay garage, along with living quarters, according to Bryant. Rawlings said the original goal for completion of the substation was Jan. 1, 2007, but this remains up in the air due to some unanticipated but needed soil studies. The substation will also require hiring 12 new firefighters, Rawlings said, adding to SFD’s current roster of 21 firefighters who work the main station. The Sevierville Fire Department is currently rated as Class 6 fire protection. As part of the department’s long-range improvement plan, 24-hour service by paid staff began during the summer of 1997. The department provides response to fire, rescue, emergency medical and hazardous materials incidents. SFD has a cooperative agreement with the Northview Fire Department to provide fire protection in that area of the city. The Sevierville Planning Commission will review a site plan for the substation at its meeting, which begins tonight at 5 at the Sevierville Civic Center. For more information on this public meeting, refer to “City to review housing developments” in today’s edition of The Herald.