Pittman Center, TN, Fire Department to Continue Operations Despite Closure Statement
After the Pittman Center Community Volunteer Fire Department (PCVFD) told Sevier County leadership it intends to cease operations on Oct. 31, the department will continue operating until its board of directors, Sevier County and the Town of Pittman Center reach an agreement.
The three entities have worked together over the last few months to find ways to meet the operational, financial and organizational needs of the fire department. In a shared statement, they noted that progress has been made, but they need more time to reach a solution, according to WATE.
The statement also said that until an agreement is reached, fire protection and emergency response services will continue without interruption. The goal is to implement a plan by July 1, 2027.
“These discussions have been positive and productive, and we appreciate the partnership of both the Town of Pittman Center and the Pittman Center Community Volunteer Fire Department,” Sevier County Mayor Bryan McCarter said. “Our priority is ensuring that residents continue to receive dependable fire protection and emergency response services. We remain committed to working through this process together and finding a long-term solution that serves the community well.”
The decision to end operations came from ongoing staffing issues, and the department even said it wanted to meet with leaders to start talks about merging with or being absorbed by Sevier County Fire and Rescue.
“We appreciate the cooperation and willingness of everyone involved to continue these discussions,” Town Administrator Tammy Watts said. “The Town remains open to exploring solutions and is committed to participating in a manner that helps us reach an outcome that best serves our residents and supports continued fire protection for our community.”
About 75 percent of PCVFD’s service area is in Sevier County, with the rest being in the Town of Pittman Center. Sevier County accounts for 52.8 percent of calls for service, while the Town of Pittman covers the rest. Both Sevier County and the Town of Pittman Center contribute annually to support PCVFD’s operations.
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Ryan Baker is a writer and associate editor with prior experiences in online and print production. Ryan is an associate editor for Firehouse with a master's degree in sciences of communication from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He recently completed a year of teaching Intro to Public Speaking at UW-Whitewater, as part of his graduate program. Ryan acquired his bachelor's degree in journalism in 2023 from UW-Whitewater, and operates currently out of Minneapolis, MN. Baker, also writes freelances for the Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA) in his free time, while also umpiring baseball for various ages across the Twin Cities Metro Area.
