Very big week for La Follette Fire Department; receiving three new units and a milestone award

The City of La Follette received a new rescue truck and received a milestone award on Wednesday morning. Jim Griffith presents LFD Chief Jimmy Pack with a plaque marking LFD’s 40th year of participating in the National Fire Safety Council’s Firepup program. Mayor Cliff Jennings is on the left end while John Griffith, Jim’s son, is on the right end. (PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)

Left to right are Andrew Carroll, Cliff Jennings, Jimmy Pack, Jim Griffith, John Griffith, Dylan Goins, Gage Jones, John Davis, Josh Etters, Keith Fraley, Ryan Wagner and Daniel Lawson.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- “People in La Follette need to know how good their fire department is,” said Jim Griffith, Firepup Program coordinator for the National Fire Safety Council. Griffith, along with his son, John, paid a surprise visit to the main fire station of the La Follette Fire Department on Wednesday morning. The reason for their visit was to make a special presentation to Chief Jimmy Pack and the firefighters on duty, the “B”, shift.

A 40-year plaque from the National Fire Safety Council was presented to the LFD. “This is quite the milestone,” said Griffith, who has been the coordinator for 38 years.

Sparky is on a fire prevention visit with students with Nancy Green at the La Follette Public Library in this file photo courtesy of WLAF’s Charlie Hutson. LFD has been a part of the Firepup program for 40 years.

In addition to Griffith’s visit, a new rescue truck arrived a little after 11am Wednesday. It was the second day in a row that LFD had received a new unit. Two fire trucks rolled in Tuesday morning.

LFD Captain Andrew Carroll drove this new unit in from Corbin, Kentucky, on Wednesday morning.

The new rescue truck, Number 106, joins Unit Number 101 in LFD’s fleet of now two rescue trucks. Unit 101 went into service in December 2021. “This new unit will be used in first response, rescue and EMS calls,” said LFD Chief Jimmy Pack.

Here’s a look inside Unit 106.
Unit 106 went into service Wednesday.

A crowd of firefighters, city officials and onlookers anxiously awaited the arrival of two new fire trucks due at La Follette’s main fire house on Tuesday morning. Just before 11am, shiny new LFD Units 103 and 105 rolled up beside the fire house.

“I thought we already have units numbered 103 and 105,” Barbara Wilson asked. Chief Jimmy Pack quickly said, “You’re right.” However, the chief explained to the City’s Administrative Assistant that these units are replacing the current 103 and 105, old units. “We’re trading those in,” added the chief.

La Follette Mayor Cliff Jennings signs paperwork officially taking delivery of the two new fire trucks.

“This is the first time the City’s purchased two new fire trucks in the same year since 1985,” said Chief Pack. These two units are replacing trucks, though still very sharp looking trucks, that are more than 20 years old, according to Pack.

Unit 105 replaces the current 105.

The new trucks were assembled by Safe Industries out of South Carolina, according to Terry Sweat, Director of Finance for the City. “The total price for these two engines comes out to $1,497,404.80,” said Sweat.

LFD’s old unit 103 was traded for this brand new unit.

“It’s certainly a help to the department helping it to be more efficient. Oh, and it helps our citizens on their homeowner and business insurance,” said Mayor Cliff Jennings. The City’s fire service rating is 4 compared to a rating of 7 at one time, according to Chief Pack. The lower the rating, the better for the citizens. “That’s come a long way in my 40 years,” said Jennings.

A NOTE FROM THE GRAND ON CENTRAL: “There is so much good going on in our community, and I want to share all this good with you every Monday here on WLAF in hopes that you will start your week in a grand way making each week a Grand Week,” said Olivia Lobertini, owner of The Grand on Central.

Below, take a visit through The Grand on Central.

For bookings, email Olivia Lobertini ohlobertini03@gmail.com. Check on avails HERE. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 12/02/2024-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)

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