Madison Co. Fire Dept. sees record calls in 2015

MADISON COUNTY, Tenn. — The Madison County Fire Department had a hectic and record setting 2015. They released numbers Friday that show their volunteers had a 24 percent increase in calls to keep you safe.

“We ran 1,100 calls last year,” Madison County Fire Marshal Don Firddle said. “It’s the most in the history of the Madison County Fire Dept and our folks are responding like as if we only had 100.”

The 24 percent increase from last year was made up of some fires but officials said they credit the higher number with more medical fire responder calls.

“Our folks are trained to provide basic emergency care to the people in their neighborhoods,” Friddle said.

Although calls seem to always be increasing, firefighters said this year was also record breaking for fire education, reaching more than 13,000 people.

“We work hard on the front end in the prevention aspect of it,” Friddle said. “Hopefully it will help and we don’t have respond to as many working fires.”

Whether 2016 will be as busy as 2015, that is still yet to be seen. But officials said they will be ready when that alarm goes off.

“Without these guys and girls that are out there doing this day and night and giving back to their community none of it would be possible,” Friddle said.

The department said they are also looking into opening a new fire station this in 2016. They purchased some land in the Law Road area in east Madison County and are currently looking for grants to complete construction.