Officials and rank and file members of Stewart County Fire & Rescue are scrambling, trying to navigate the issues brought on by the surprise vote Monday night by the Town of Dover, Tennessee to end its fire contract with SCFR.
It came as a surprise to SCFR Chief Ethan Luffman, who was in attendance at the city council meeting Monday.
“I thought it was just under discussion,” Luffman said. “I didn’t know they were going to vote on it.”
It seemed to come as a surprise to Dover City Council member Mike Pulley.
“I don’t have enough information here to be on board with this,” Pulley said during the meeting.
“I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it,” Luffman said via phone interview tonight.
Dover plans to create a “Public Safety Department” with its police and fire departments.
Volunteers are being sought for the new Dover Fire Department. Contact Dover City Hall at 931-232-5907.
Luffman said part of the logistical problems for SCFR is that three trucks now housed at the Dover Fire Station in the basement of the Dover Town Hall will have to be relocated to other stations.
He said the SCFR department’s main truck is now housed at the Dover Fire Station in order to more quickly respond to wrecks and other emergencies from Dover, which is the approximate geographic center of Stewart County. There is also a NSFR ladder truck housed at the Dover station and a third truck is also kept there.
Finding out where all of the equipment is and what belongs to whom is going to add to the list of logistical issues to work out in the divorce of the fire departments.
When the two fire departments ‘merged’ in 2014, the antique Dover, TN Fire Engine was given to SCFR. In fact, had it not been for SCFR, the old truck would have been sold, officials say.
“We maintain it and only use it in parades,” Luffman said.
This story will update …………
Story Written by David R. Ross ~ LBLUS.com
